(UNION CITY, NEW JERSEY) – Mayor Brian P. Stack and Union City Chief of Police, Nichelle Luster, offer the following statements concerning the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd, an African-American man from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“The tragic death of Mr. George Floyd represents a complete breakdown of what our country was founded upon. It serves as a painful reminder of the failings of our society and demands for us to do better. The base of our democracy depends on our ability to change the narrative about race in this country and to bring justice to those who have been discriminated against by those who swore to serve and protect them. Over the last few months, our “new normal” has placed a tremendous amount of stress upon all of us, but, in difficult times, we have always stood together in solidarity as one community. It is my hope that these horrific events do not drive a wedge between the relationships the police department have with the community. If we are going create change for the betterment of Union City, we must do so together.” – Mayor Brian P. Stack
“I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the events in Minneapolis. The actions that resulted in the death of Mr. George Floyd are contrary to New Jersey police training standards and contrary to New Jersey law. The conduct of that former officer erodes the trust that we work so hard to establish within our communities and mars the reputation of hard-working law-enforcement professionals everywhere. Police Officers have a duty and a responsibility to serve with compassion, proficiency, and respect. Anything less is unacceptable. I am proud of the relationship my department has with our residents. Only through partnership, communication, constructive criticism, and understanding of individual differences, can we be successful.
My heartfelt thanks go out to the Union City community for your continued support.” – Chief Nichelle Luster
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