Message from Police Chief Rodriguez:
Bay City Community,
As we’ve watched the situation in Memphis unfold and more recently seen the horrendous accompanying bodycam footage, we condemn the unconscionable actions of the five former Memphis officers that appear to directly contribute to the tragic death of Mr. Tyre Nichols.
Their heinous actions do not reflect the overwhelming majority of officers who have sworn to protect and serve, and there is simply no justification for their behavior.
I stand with The International Association of Chiefs of Police and other police chiefs from across the nation in condemning their conduct and firmly believe they should be held accountable for their actions.
Our thoughts are with Mr. Nichols’ family and the entire Memphis community as they seek to grapple with this tragedy.
The Texas Police Chiefs Association and chiefs across America are committed to holding members of our profession to the highest standards of moral and ethical behavior.
We remain intent on ensuring that the law enforcement profession continues to demand that individuals who serve believe in the fair treatment of all and practice this through their ethical actions.
Officers cannot sit idle and have a duty to intervene if excessive force or immoral behavior is believed to be taking place. We must do better.
Chief Christella Rodriguez
