“The Saugus Police Department, as the people sworn to protect the lives and wellbeing of everyone in our community, wish to reaffirm our dedication to treating every person we encounter with dignity, compassion and respect.
“Black. Lives. Matter. It’s critical that each and every one of you knows our department stands fully behind that statement.
“The horrific, tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others before them has spurred a conversation nationwide which should have happened a long, long time ago. Racism, in all its forms, is unacceptable, and there is no place for it here or anywhere.
“We are deeply disturbed by these deaths. The fact that George Floyd lost his life at the hands of people who utterly disregarded the tremendous responsibility law enforcement undertake when swearing to protect and serve everyone in their communities is horrifying. We fully condemn the acts of the officers responsible for Mr. Floyd’s death.
“We want you to know that the tactics used by those officers are not acceptable and are not ever used by our department. Our officers regularly participate in comprehensive training on topics including de-escalation techniques, mental health, diversity and inclusion, fair and impartial policing and police legitimacy. Every member of our department is trained to only use the amount of force necessary for any given situation. This ensures the safety of the suspect, the officers and civilians who may be nearby.
“As our nation navigates the systemic racism that has brought us to where we are today, we will continue to train our officers in the most up to date police standards, review our policies and procedures, and work closely with community groups. We will seek to hire men and women who exemplify the expectations and highest standards of policing equitably, safely and with compassion.
“The Saugus Police Department stands with you, and we will always be here for you.”
Ronald Giorgetti
Chief of Police
