Vancouver Police Chief James McElvain has issued a statement indicating he was dismayed by remarks made by President Donald Trump that seemed to encourage police officers to use excessive force against suspects.
On Friday, Trump was in Long Island, N.Y., to talk about his administration’s efforts to combat violent gangs. Speaking to a crowd of police officers, Trump made comments that were later criticized for sending the wrong message to law enforcement.
“When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just see them thrown in, rough. I said, ‘Please don’t be too nice,’ ” Trump said to applause.
“Like, don’t hit their head, and they’ve just killed somebody,” he went on to say, referring to how officers will shield a suspect’s head while placing them in a police vehicle.
“I said, ‘You can take the hand away, OK?’ ”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Monday that she believed Trump was “making a joke.” But local law enforcement agencies across the country have criticized or pushed back against his remarks. On Monday, the Vancouver Police Department joined them when McElvain posted a message on social media networks Facebook and Nextdoor.
“Last Friday, I became aware of comments made by President Trump related to treatment of criminals,” McElvain wrote. “I was dismayed by these comments and want to assure the members of our community that the law enforcement profession, and Vancouver Police Department, has come too far in building relationships and trust within in our community to alter our course.”
McElvain said he heard the remarks on the radio and was surprised that the president made them at a time when relations between law enforcement agencies and the public have become contentious.
He said that during the economic downturn, law enforcement agencies lost staff that could have helped build bridges with the community. Despite the lost opportunity, he said, law enforcement agencies in Clark County have worked hard to bolster community relations. He mentioned the Chief’s Diversity Advisory Team, a citizen group that advises the department and seeks to improve community relations.
“To have that type of a comment come from the president really takes us back a couple of steps,” he said.
In the statement, McElvain stressed the department’s emphasis on ethics, specifically “doing the right thing, maintaining self-discipline, credibility and moral behavior.” He emphasized treating “all people” with respect, compassion and fairness while also “honoring diversity of thought, experiences and opinions.”
“Nothing in our vision, mission and values condones mistreatment of others by any means,” he wrote. “The Vancouver Police Department Vision, Mission, Values and Motto serve as the foundation of our department and it is my expectation that our personnel adhere to these standards.”
McElvain said he sent a separate message to VPD staff reiterating the department’s efforts to build trust and respect with the community.
Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins didn’t respond to a call for comment, but McElvain said that the heads of other local law enforcement agencies have expressed interest in issuing a similar statement.
