BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont Police are changing tactics.
After a short video of a February arrest showing a Beaumont police officer using his knee on a teen's shoulder surfaced, Beaumont Police Chief Jimmy Singletary says his department will change techniques and no longer teach or use the maneuver.
“(Beaumont police) are not going to use any techniques that intentionally cover or involve the neck or the head as an initial point of contact,” Chief Singletary told 12News in an exclusive interview Wednesday night.
The incident that has sparked debate in the community happened on February 22 at Parkdale Mall, three months before the tragic death of George Floyd. Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on his neck for several minutes. That officer and three others have now been charged in Floyd’s death.
While cell phone video shows a Beaumont police officer using a similar move that sparked outrage in the Floyd case, Singletary says the video being shared on social media only shows seconds of a 15-20 minute encounter between police and the teens.
Beaumont Police say they were called to the mall for reports of the teens fighting in the parking lot. When they arrived, they say they found a large group of people and began approaching a young woman an officer on the scene singled out.
When officers approached her, a 17 year old male began yelling and reached out to ‘interfere with the arrest’, according to police in a statement released Wednesday night.
In the statement, police say they began to apprehend the teen. “Once he was on the ground, he was rolled onto his stomach, and one officer applied pressure to the male's upper back and neck with his knee, to hold him while he was being handcuffed.”
“It’s impossible to compare this incident as to what happened to Mr. Floyd because no one got injured,” Singletary said.
Once the teen was in handcuffs, Singletary says officers began talking to him, and they realized he was trying to protect his younger sister.
“They had a good conversation with him, like a big brother kind of conversation,” Singletary said. “The young man was very apologetic and realized he made a mistake. After a few minutes, our officers decided to let him go and not file any charges. That is hardly inhumane behavior. Our officers, again after things calmed down, realized this was a good, young man and he acted impulsively.”
Singletary says after reviewing the body camera footage and other evidence he supports the actions of the officers, however he recognizes the call for reevaluating policy.
12News has requested the police body cam video and are awaiting for a reply from the Beaumont Police Department.
Singletary says that he understands the national conversation ongoing in the wake of Floyd’s death. However, he says that our local community needs to put this incident in perspective.
“It is disconcerting that people in the community are making derogatory and disparaging remarks toward the officers after seeing a seconds-long video," Singletary said. "It makes me sick that these officers who are doing a tough job during a tough time are having to endure this type of crud. It makes me ill. Our officers are going through too much stuff as it is right now without having to put up with these threats from these clowns on social media."
The officers involved in the February arrest are still on the force, Singletary told 12News.
Singletary says that during this incident, he and his department have been meeting regularly with the NAACP and 100 Black Men.
"Our citizens right now are our biggest asset," Singletary said. "They know we are trying. We've been transparent. We've got so many good operations and functions and organizational relationships out in the community. And we want them to know we are with them."
Singletary also told 12News that the work over the last few years between BPD and these organizations are key.
“We value our relationships with the community, especially our relationships with the NAACP, 100 Black Men and other minority relationships in the community. They have asked us to reconsider our policies on use of forced during arrests. And we have. It’s good that we are working together. We’re not agreeing on everything, but we are communicating and are keeping the lines of communication open."
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