George Floyd death was murder, says WPD chief, who served as head of MN police group

The killing of George Floyd was murder, says Wichita’s police chief, who was formerly the president of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association.

The comments from Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay come as organizers plan a protest at the Patrol North substation related to Floyd’s death while being arrested in Minneapolis. Ramsay’s voice carries national weight as a member of a new presidential commission on law enforcement that’s partly tasked with addressing the divide between police and their communities.

“I am horrified at what occurred in Minneapolis and struggle for words, but in good conscience cannot remain silent,” Ramsay said in posts to his Facebook and Twitter accounts. “I get a lump in my throat when I try to talk about it, but in that video I see a murder committed by those who are violating the very oath they swore to uphold.”

Floyd’s last words were “I can’t breathe” as an officer held his face to the pavement with his knee on the back of his neck. The Memorial Day killing was captured on video as bystanders pleaded for his life. Four officers have been fired since the incident happened on Monday, though none have been arrested or charged with crimes.

Facebook has placed a warning over their original 10-minute video, advising viewers that it “may show violent or graphic content.”

Protest in Wichita

Ramsay’s comments come as two Wichita women are organizing a protest for 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Patrol North substation, 3015 E. 21st St.

“Even though it’s not in Kansas, I have a black son,” said Latisha Buncome, one of the organizers of the event. “He is not in trouble. He’s never in trouble. But it’s always a fear to us as black women, especially, and I’m sure black men, that something like that could actually happen (to our sons). It’s starting to turn to a history thing with the relationship between the community and cops.”

The protest is in the part of Wichita with the highest percentage of black people. Floyd was a black man, and the officer who held him down by his neck is white.

Buncome, who is organizing the Justice for Floyd event with Precious Smith, said the location is in the center of black neighborhoods, visible by traffic and allows for accountability for protesters and police.

Protesters elsewhere have burned buildings and looted stores, but organizers of the Justice for Floyd protest in Wichita promise it will be “a peaceful event in protest of police brutality.”

“We will be out to march, chant and gather with the sole purpose of bringing awareness to police brutality,” the Facebook page for the event states. “Please come out with your signs, your open mind, and your face masks (Covid 19 is still real).”

Organizers plan to march toward the highway and back. Planned speakers are Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson and his wife, Danielle, and Tijuana Mamarazzi.

Wichita isn’t immune to incidents of police officers racially profiling people, Buncome said. In December, the Police Department asked a Wichita State University professor to review data compiled by the city’s unofficial racial profiling board that activists said shows black drivers are more likely to be ticketed.

Buncome added that Ramsay has been invited to the Saturday protest.

Ramsay told The Eagle he plans to attend.

“The one thing that I see is that I see police officers coming together to say what happened is wrong,” Ramsay said. “I have not seen anywhere an officer defending what was in that video.”

“Police are often a flashpoint for disparities that exist in so many different areas,” Ramsay said. “Disparities around housing, healthcare, education, employment. It goes on and on and then when we have a negative police incident like this it is a flashpoint to bring all those disparities out.”

National outcry

In Minneapolis, the mayor has called for prosecutors to press charges against the officers involved in Floyd’s death. Four officers have been fired — Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng. None have been arrested or charged.

President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Wednesday that he was directing federal authorities to open an investigation into “the very sad and tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd ... My heart goes out to George’s family and friends. Justice will be served!”

The Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that a criminal investigation had been opened into whether the officers violated constitutional rights.

Protests in Minneapolis have resulted in police using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. As demonstrations broke out in Los Angeles, the city’s police chief condemned the actions of the Minneapolis officers. Unlike Wichita’s police chief, he stopped short of calling it murder.

In Kansas City, Missouri, police have said they will use the video as an example of what not to do.

Aside from his position as the leader of the largest law enforcement agency in Kansas, Ramsay’s voice carries authority in Minnesota and nationally.

Ramsay was one of two police chiefs appointed by President Trump in January to a new law enforcement commission tasked in part “to address the divide” between police and the communities they serve. Attorney General William Barr said the commission will address the “disturbing pattern of cynicism and disrespect shown toward law enforcement.”

The U.S. Attorney for Minnesota is also on the 18-member commission.

Before coming to Wichita in 2016, Ramsay spent a decade as the police chief in Duluth, Minnesota, which is about 2.5 hours north of Minneapolis. He also served as president of the state’s police chief association.

Ramsay is a member of the Major Cities Chiefs Association with Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo and knows other officers on the department.