Belmont Police Chief Addresses George Floyd Death

BELMONT, MA — Belmont Police Chief James MacIssac published a letter to the community after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. MacIssac said following the graphic video that went viral across the nation, several residents reached out to him, asking what protocal Belmont police follow.

The letter denounced the police officers actions in the video of Floyd's death and reassured residents in Belmont that officers in the community receive extensive training to deescalate incidents.

MacIssac said he and the officers in the department were disturbed by the video and are set on their goal of giving fair and impartial police service to the community.

"The Belmont Police will continue our partnerships and collaboration with existing and future groups that seek to bring social justice to our community," MacIssac said.

Officers receive annual explicit and implicit bias training as well as deescalation training. MacIssac said he will attend all roll calls in the department this week to address George Floyd's death with officers on each shift and express the concerns residents brought to him.

"The most effective way we can build trust between the community is for us to get to know one another," MacIssac said, "As a police officer, it is heartbreaking to me when I learn that there are people in our community that fear the police."

MacIssac closed the letter by urging residents with questions or concerns to reach out to him or to other officers.