Medford Leaders Speak On George Floyd's Death

MEDFORD, MA – Medford leaders spoke out over the weekend against the actions of the Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd.

"On behalf of the entire Medford Police Department, I wish to express my sincere sympathy and offer condolence to the family and friends of Mr. Floyd," Police Chief Jack Buckley said in a statement Saturday.

Buckley placed the blame for Floyd's death squarely on the four officers involved, who have been identified as Derek Chauvin, caught on video with his knee on Floyd, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng. Chauvin was charged with third degree murder Friday.

"By all accounts, George Floyd died because of the actions of the police. By all accounts, George Floyd died because of the inaction of several other police officers. By all accounts, George Floyd died because of poor police policy," Buckley said. "It is clear that George Floyd died inhumanely and unnecessarily, in the custody of Minneapolis, MN police officers."

At the same time, Buckley said he is proud to be a police officer and "proud to lead a police department of fine men and women who openly condemn what happened in Minneapolis." Read Buckley's full statement here.

Police departments across the country, including in Boston, have expressed condolences to the Floyd family and indicated support for the Minneapolis police chief's decision to fire the four officers involved.

Mayor Lungo-Koehn released a statement of her own Sunday, in which she said she was "sickened and heartbroken at the needless loss of life." Read her words below:

"Like many of you, I saw the video of the tragic – and preventable – death of George Floyd. I was sickened and heartbroken at the needless loss of life; I was outraged at the callous and reckless behavior by someone sworn to protect the public; and I was frustrated and confused as to how this happened and how this continues to happen. In a challenging time where so many have come together for the greater good, this tragedy was a stark and painful reminder of the deep divisions that exist in American society and how far we must go to heal them.

I am heartbroken at what I saw – what the world saw – on that street in Minneapolis. But we must remember that feeling so that we can work toward making sure it never happens again and that justice is done. This is a difficult conversation to have, but one that needs to take place – in city halls and state houses from Maine to Minnesota to California. I may not know what the answer is, but I do know that I never again want to feel the way I felt watching another senseless death on an American street."