An open letter from Chief Arata to our TC Community:
All of you are aware of the recent police incident in Minnesota which resulted in the death of Mr. George Floyd, and you may be asking how and why such a tragedy can occur. The events over the past week have been deeply disturbing, which is a shared sentiment of the entire TC Police Department.
First, I wish to express my sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr. Floyd. Based on the video evidence, it is clear this death should never have happened. The lack of compassion and humanity, in addition to the erosion of self-control, displayed by the officer and those officers that failed to intercede is alarming and inexcusable. I understand the anger those images have caused.
As your Chief, I want you all to know I feel we ALL should condemn this type of policing. There is no place for this abuse in our profession. We are better than this! The officers of our Trophy Club Police Department understand their role and believe in fair treatment for all. We always strive to hire great people who are and will become great officers that will enforce the core values of our organization while protecting the freedoms of our residents.
What happened to George Floyd is inexcusable. We would never condone or tolerate such action by the men and women in uniform here in Trophy Club. I join with Police Chiefs and communities from across the country in speaking out against police misconduct and assure our residents of Trophy Club that we will always strive to protect everyone equally, no matter who they are or how they look.
The Trophy Club community rightfully expects its police officers to act without bias and conduct themselves in a professional manner, marked by empathy and compassion. Although the death of Mr. Floyd may have caused erosion in trust of law enforcement among some of you, please know that we are here to provide safety for the entire community and make a positive impact on the quality of life in TC.
Our officers are actively working with event organizers planning to hold a peaceful protest this Thursday night along Trophy Lake Drive. I assure you, our priority is the safety for both the community and those exercising their first amendment right to assemble peacefully. In doing so, we echo this event organizer’s call for a peaceful demonstration, and any violence or destructive behavior will not be tolerated.
I’ve been your Chief of Police in Trophy Club for 5 ½ years, I’ve taken a lot of pride in serving the community, where today I feel sad for my profession. However, as your Chief, I’m committed to doing whatever is necessary to restore the confidence from our community. The Trophy Club Police Department never forgets that we are public servants, and all that we have comes from you. Thank you for the opportunity to serve Trophy Club.
- Chief Patrick Arata