Boulder police union offers thoughts on reform

Amid nationwide calls to defund or disband the police, the Boulder Police Officers’ Association issued a letter June 29 to offer its thoughts on the killing of George Floyd and the future of policing.

“Every officer at the Boulder Police Department was appalled at George Floyd’s death,” the letter read. “It was a horrific act and the exact opposite of what good police officers do. His death was ghastly, and such behavior is not representative of the women and men of our department.”

The letter, signed by Union President Mark Biley, also calls on the community to put police killings in context.

“‘There are no good police,’ is a lie that has been repeated far too often,” Biley wrote. “The vilification and scapegoating of police forces in our country is a convenient narrative for some and does nothing to solve the problem. At best, it results in a bias against officers, at worst, it incites violence [against] our peace officers and encourages destruction of our society.”

Biley echoed sentiments from other police organizations that officers are asked to do too much, as legislators, he claims, have reduced funding for homelessness, mental health and substance abuse issues.

“Day in and day out police officers around the country are the only resource available, so they are inserted into volatile situations with people in crisis. We didn’t ask for these additional mandates, but we respond because we care. Because we serve.”