Bozeman Police Chief Makes Statement About George Floyd Death

In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd last week at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, protests and riots have broken out across the country. Some participating have burned buildings, thrown rocks through windows, and many innocent people have been injured, and some even killed. On Sunday, some 2,000 people attended a peaceful protest in downtown Bozeman.

Monday, Bozeman Police Chief Steve Crawford issued the following statement:

With regard to the George Floyd in-custody death in Minneapolis, we are dismayed and deeply troubled by what occurred and what we saw on that video.  There is no justification for the actions of the now former officer, nor for the failure of the other officers at the scene to intervene, that resulted in Mr. Floyd’s tragic death.

Our organization values the sanctity of human life and the importance of treating all persons with dignity and respect and this act was none of that.  Yesterday, Bozeman gathered to voice its commitment to being a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community.

As a profession, we are sworn to protect our communities and all of those within. Please know that your police department is committed to keeping Bozeman safe in partnership with our fellow community members.