IDAHO CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January, 27, 2022
CONTACT: Tracy Basterrechea
Idaho Chiefs of Police Association Response to Memphis
After viewing the video of what occurred in Memphis, the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association is disheartened that these five (5) officers could be so void of human empathy and compassion that they would commit such a horrendous criminal act, an act which is really an affront to our very profession and our mission to protect and to serve.
Many major cities are preparing for rioting and while we probably won’t see this type of activity, we are sure our citizens will exercise their right to protest, we are confident they will do so in a peaceful manner. We will all be painted with a broad brush and lumped in with the Memphis officers. We are not them and they do not represent the professionalism Idaho officers display each day. What happened to Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee is as appalling as it is disheartening. The fact that five (5) police officers, who are supposed to protect and serve their community, could be so brazen and brutal is almost impossible to fathom. They not only violated their oath as police officers, but violated the basic tenets of humanity. While our hearts go out to Mr. Nichols family, we know it will never bring him back or heal their pain or fill to void his death has left.
As police leaders we have to recognize and acknowledge when someone tarnishes our profession. We have to hold our officers accountable and we need to maintain our strict hiring and training standards in order to avoid incidents like these from occurring in our state.
To our Idaho police officers, thank you for your continued empathy, compassion and professionalism.
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