The head of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) criticized President Barack Obama over the latter’s criticism of Ferguson, Missouri police’s handling and “excessive use of force” against “peaceful protests.”
Executive Director Jim Pasco said such comments would not help in easing the situation, Newsmax reported.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Jim Pasco” author_title=”Executive Director, Fraternal Order of Police”]
I would contend that discussing police tactics from Martha’s Vineyard is not helpful to ultimately calming the situation.
[/quote]
“I think what he has to do as president and as a constitutional lawyer is remember that there is a process in the United States and the process is being followed, for good or for ill, by the police and by the county and by the city and by the prosecutor’s office.”
Riots, vandalism, looting, and clashes between the police and protesters have become widespread in the past few days to protest against the killing of 18-year old Michael Brown Jr. on Saturday, allegedly perpetrated by Darren Wilson, a police officer and member of the FOP. He is legally represented by the organization.
Obama on Thursday appealed to both the police and the protesters for “peace and calm” in Ferguson, a mostly black neighborhood in the suburban town of St. Louis.
“There is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting,” Obama said in a statement while on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, Mashable reported.
“There’s also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights.”
