(taken from the LPD Facebook page)
The Lawrence Police Department strives to be a modern, open public safety agency. As police officers, we must be held to a high standard, and we must have the trust and faith of our residents in order to be successful.
The proliferation of cameras, both fixed and mobile, in this day and age means that the actions of police officers and criminal suspects alike are subject to the greater levels of scrutiny than ever before in history. As a police chief, I welcome scrutiny because it will result in better policing and better police officers.
On Wednesday, Lawrence Police Officers were arresting multiple drug suspects when a citizen walked through the arrest scene, between the suspects and the officers, with an active video camera. That citizen was detained by the officers.
Citizens have the right to film police officers performing their duties, and I have issued a general order to every member of the Lawrence Police Department reminding them of this right. A full and thorough investigation is underway by the Lawrence Police Department Professional Standards Unit.
This incident should serve as a teachable moment to all parties involved. Having viewed the video, which was posted to social media, it appears that both parties – the citizen and police officers – should have used a different approach. No one, for their own safety, should walk between police officers and suspects during an arrest, and police officers should always conduct themselves in a courteous manner, regardless of how high emotions may run during arrests.
I will allow the results of our internal affairs investigation to guide the department moving forward, and I welcome feedback and a dialog with anyone in the community about this vital issue.
