'What the hell are you doing?': Tennessee law enforcement leaders react to George Floyd's death

Law enforcement leaders across Tennessee expressed disgust and disdain on Friday over this week's death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died in police custody after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck.

"Every officer in our police department and throughout the country should be emotionally shaken by what has occurred in Minneapolis," Metro Nashville Police Department Chief Steve Anderson wrote in a statement.

A bystander video of Floyd's death spread quickly on social media this week, showing the former officer, Derek Chauvin, driving his knee into Floyd's neck as the handcuffed man repeatedly said he could not breathe.

Chauvin and three other officers involved in the Monday incident have been fired, and on Friday, Chauvin was arrested.  The video that circulated showed Chauvin holding his knee to Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes before he died.

Meanwhile, Floyd's death has sparked protests and riots nationwide. Ben Crump, an attorney representing Floyd's family, has called for the arrest of the remaining former officers.

The conduct of law enforcement has sparked criticism in the past in Tennessee.

Former MNPD Officer Andrew Delke is awaiting trial on a murder charge. Delke, who is white, shot Daniel Hambrick, who was black, three times in the back during a July 2018 foot chase in North Nashville. Activists have cited the 25-year-old's death as a violent example of racial bias on the police force.

Delke, 26, is the first Nashville officer ever to be charged with murder after an on-duty shooting.

Last summer, U.S. Marshals shot and killed a wanted man in the Frayser neighborhood of Memphis, triggering a violent protest. The man was identified as 20-year-old Brandon Webber. Experts later raised questions about the response of the Memphis Police Department to the protests. 

Minneapolis officer's actions called 'unconscionable' 

"Words cannot adequately express my disdain over the actions that led to the death of George Floyd," Anderson wrote. "The total lack of concern shown by the officer as he continued to hold his knee to the neck of Mr. Floyd as he repeatedly struggled to breathe is unconscionable. Also intolerable is the lack of intervention of the officers who stood there."

Williamson County Sheriff Dusty Rhoades also added his criticism of the situation and the other officers involved.

"The death of George Floyd is wrong in so many ways," he told the Tennessean. "If you're in the law enforcement community and can't see that, you should get the hell out.  I don't know what is worse, the rogue cop who was arrested today or the ones who stood by watching and didn't do anything."

Nolensville Police Department Chief Roddy Parker said the situation does not represent the vast majority of officers who love their communities.

"I've watched as life left many people during my career, and this was no easier to watch," Parker posted on the department's social media page. "I saw this I was literally screaming at the TV, 'What the hell are you doing?' George Floyd should not have died this way. This is not the image I want associated with my chosen profession. No officer wants this.

"There are people who shouldn't be wearing the badge and many who have tarnished it. Sometimes we just need to speak up when something looks or feels wrong, even when it's one of our own. This is where we earn the public trust –– by being real. Sometimes law enforcement make mistakes. Sometimes it's a lack of training. Sometimes we're just plain wrong."

Knoxville Police Department Chief Eve Thomas issued a statement Friday which condemned the actions of the officers involved in Floyd's death and commended Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo in firing them.

"The conduct exhibited is neither taught nor accepted in our profession, and it severely undermines the strides law enforcement agencies across the country have made to earn the trust of their communities," Thomas said. "Police officers have a foundational duty and responsibility to treat all individuals with dignity, decency and respect, and must be held accountable when they fail in that basic principle of public service. Behavior that does not represent the values of the profession or serve to improve the well-being of the community should never be tolerated."

Cheatham County Sheriff Mike Breedlove called the video disturbing and said the type of restraint used “was very problematic."

“He’s complying,” Breedlove said of what he saw in the video of Floyd.

“Bottom line (is), there must be some lack of training up there,” Breedlove said. He emphasized the importance of training law enforcement officers and regularly renewing training. “The only way they’re going to be able to get past it (is with) better training. (We’ll have to) see what pans out with the investigation.”

Gallatin Police Chief Don Bandy concurred the use of force was unnecessary and “very inappropriate, in my opinion."

"It was disheartening to see, especially because there are so many good law enforcement officers out there (who are) really concerned about serving others," Bandy said. "It’s definitely not what we want to see in this profession.”

Memphis Police Department Director Michael Rallings joined the chorus of law enforcement who denounced Chauvin's actions. He offered condolences to Floyd's family. 

"There is no explanation for what we witnessed in Minneapolis," Rallings said in a statement posted to social media. "The level of force and the disregard of life that was shown sicken me.

"I understand the frustration that many are feeling, and I, too, believe that this incident should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted by authorities. As a law enforcement officer, we must protect our citizens from harm and crime. If the line is crossed and if an officer becomes a criminal by violating the laws that he or she swore to uphold, that officer must be held accountable.”

Clarksville Police Department Chief Al Ansley called what happened to George Floyd "disgusting" and said it's something that police and law enforcement supporters everywhere should "call out" as unacceptable.

"The tactics used by those officers were not proper tactics, and I don't care whose policy you're looking at, especially our policy," he said.

Ansley also said that policy includes a prohibition on choke-holds, a responsibility to aid an arrested subject who's in distress and a duty to intervene.

He said there are rare situations where it might be appropriate to kneel on a subject, but under no circumstances should an officer kneel on someone's neck. In fact, Ansley said, when a subject is handcuffed, officers have an additional responsibility to ensure that subject's safety.

Gov. Lee: Floyd's death 'should be brought to justice' 

On Thursday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said the former Minnesota police officers involved in Floyd's death "should be brought to justice for the loss of that life." 

Earlier this week, a police officer in Greenbrier, Tennessee, resigned after he was placed on leave because of a profanity-laced Facebook comment referencing the death of George Floyd. The officer later resigned.

The city of Greenbrier confirmed that following the closed investigation, former Officer Cory Tidwell, "was extremely apologetic and remorseful for any embarrassment he caused the City of Greenbrier and Greenbrier Police Department."

According to several screen captures, Tidwell wrote, without naming Floyd, "If he was begging...HE WAS F---ING BREATHING STUPID F---S!!!!!!!!!....same old bulls--- over and over and over..."

The Tennessean redacted profanities for this story.

Protests ripple nationwide

Floyd's death sparked protests across the nation — some that turned violent in several major cities. 

In Minneapolis, protesters angered by Floyd's death gained access to a police precinct on Thursday during the third night of violent protests spreading beyond the city.

The protests unfurled as other cities saw similar demonstrations over police killings of black Americans, including Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Louisville emergency room tech who was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police Department officers in March.

At least seven people were shot Thursday night in downtown Louisville while others were arrested as hundreds of protesters gathered to demand justice for her death.

Police officers did not fire their guns, the LPD spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said.

On Thursday in Memphis, a silent demonstration intended to protest the deaths of Floyd, Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery turned into separate verbal confrontations with Memphis police and counter-protesters. 

Tennessean reporters Emily West and Kelly Fisher contributed to this report. Daniel Connolly in Memphis contributed. Chris Smith in Clarksville contributed. Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.