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Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Regarding Shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7, 2016
Contact:  Katie Vane
                 802.734.0617

 

Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Regarding Shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota

 

“The officer-involved shootings of two black men, one in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Tuesday and one in St. Paul, Minnesota on Wednesday, have shaken Americans once again.  My thoughts are with the family and friends of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. 

These shootings are a source of grief and distress in the Burlington community, and a reminder of why we are working diligently to avoid such tragedies here.  The Burlington Police Department continues to implement critical 21st century policing practices, including deployment of body cameras on all officers, increased de-escalation training, increased anti-bias training, and numerous initiatives to ensure strong relationships between officers and the communities they are responsible for protecting. Officers are taught the value of training that protects both the police and the citizens they encounter.  Our police train to be communicators, problem-solvers and tacticians, with the goal of every police-citizen interaction ending safely.

The full details of both situations are not fully known at this time, and independent investigations are critical to ensure justice for the officers and individuals involved in these incidents.  Regardless of the outcomes of these investigations, the City of Burlington, State of Vermont and country need to continue their work to ensure that police departments strengthen community policing and trust among law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.”

 

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Press Release Date: 
07/07/2016
City Department: 
Mayor's Office