As Raleigh braces for George Floyd protests, chief calls for officers to build trust

Wake County closed its Downtown Raleigh facilities early because of “the potential for downtown Raleigh protests” related to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a Wake County spokesperson said Friday.

The facilities closed at 4 p.m., instead of 5 p.m. They included the Wake County Justice Center, the Wake County Office Building, the Public Safety Center and the Wake County Courthouse.

Raleigh police did not confirm whether they knew of any protests on Friday night.

No visible protests were taking place in Raleigh Friday evening.

There have been protests and riots for several days in Minneapolis and around the country following Floyd’s death while being restrained by police. In widely circulated video, a white police officer is seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck while Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. Floyd, who is black, died at the hospital afterward. He was not armed.

Earlier Friday, the officer seen in the video, who has since been fired, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said, CNN reports.

Meanwhile, police chiefs and law enforcement leaders around the country and in North Carolina have been decrying the officer’s actions.

Friday night, Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown issued a statement about Floyd’s death, saying it was “disheartening and a concern to the law enforcement profession as a whole.”

“While the vast majority of law enforcement officers serve with the highest degree of fairness, compassion and integrity, the actions of a few officers can create a ripple effect that has the potential to negatively impact us all,” the statement said.

She said officers should follow the standards set during “proper training, protocols and procedures, not only here in Raleigh, but across the country.

“To act in any way that is contrary to upholding professional standards is unacceptable behavior that cannot and should not be rationalized, excused or overlooked,” she wrote. “We call on law enforcement professionals everywhere to hold every human life of equal value; to demonstrate compassion; to strive to be instruments of positive change; to be deliberate in building better communities for all; and to be unrelenting in the important work of fostering trust and transparency.”

Durham County Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead said in a statement he is “embarrassed” and “outraged,” saying his office is committed to the “fair and impartial treatment” of all people, McClatchy News reported. He cited other incidents where blacks died as a result of police ations.

“I find the acts and omissions by these police officers to be incomprehensible and indefensible,” he wrote.

And in Cary, Police Chief Toni Dezomits wrote in a statement: “Our police officers have expressed worry and concern that the actions of the officers in Minneapolis will negatively and unfairly reflect on them in the eyes of the Cary citizens that they serve. I have encouraged them to continue to serve with professionalism, patience and compassion.”

Other events are planned this weekend in Raleigh for Floyd.

Saturday, a demonstration is planned at 5 p.m. on Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh.

A memorial is scheduled Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at 101 N. Wilmington St. People attending the memorial are asked to wear masks and stay in their cars.

This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.

This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 5:03 PM.