As part of the Troy University family, we want to add our collective voice to the conversation regarding recent events in Minnesota and comments made by the university’s Chief of Police. We want to express our concerns and disappointment with the actions taken so far by the university in response to Mr. McCall’s comments.

First, thank you for your recent statement condemning the comments posted by Mr. McCall on Facebook regarding the incident involving the Minnesota Police Departmentand George Floyd, and for starting a much-needed conversation about racism in America, including Troy University. Your statement rightly notes that Mr. Floyd “…did not contribute to his death or that his actions justified the lethal force inflicted upon him”, yet the university’s actions fall short in terms of addressing the vile, tone deafcomments made by Mr. McCall. We are hopeful that your commitment to truth and justice is commensurate with your commitment to the student body and staff at Troy University.

While we are certain that you are aware of the events that led to Mr. Floyd’s murder, we want to reiterate several of those pertinent facts. Below are (8) eight bullet points symbolic of the time it took to murder Mr. Floyd that address these facts.

• Mr. Floyd was only a “suspect” in the passing of a counterfeit $20 dollar bill; reports have been offered that the bill was, in fact, not a counterfeit;
• Regardless of whether the bill was counterfeit or not, officers are only allowed to use enough force to affect and arrest. Once the officers made the arrest, the arrestee’s well-being and health are the responsibility of the arresting officer;
• Mr. Floyd was forcibly pulled from inside a police vehicle; he was already restrained with his hands behind his back and then laid flat on the ground;
• The former police officer visibly kept his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck even after he was unresponsive. The officer did not remove his knee until after being asked to do so by the EMT responder;
• The actions and non-actions of the other officers involved as aiders and abettors are considered criminal actions by well established legal standards and the other officers were appropriately charged;
• The treatment and ultimate deadly punishment of Mr.Floyd did not fit the alleged crime;
• Many career law enforcement officials from across the country have condemned the actions of all the officers involved but not Troy University’s Chief McCall; and
• Mr. Floyd was not responsible for his own death
 

Mr. Floyd was visibly murdered in the streets with his hands cuffed behind his back while he pleaded for help, air to breathe, water, and even called out for his deceased mother. The greatest take-away from this incident is that Mr. Floyd was murdered on camera by a police officer with no apparent regard for his life. Second degree murder charges have appropriately been filed against the former officer.

 

Unfortunately for the Troy family, the greatest take-away from the university decision to merely suspend Mr. McCall pending an investigation, is that the university will tolerate blatant inflammatory rhetoric and behavior from its staff sworn to protect and to serve. This decision does not instill confidence in the university’s commitment to furthering police reform, racial equity and justice, or in protecting the numerous African Americans and other people of color –students, faculty and staff, and alumni - affiliated with the university.

 

Mr. McCall’s vicious words attempting to justify police brutality and the murder of a human being in police custody tell a dangerous tale as to what he would do in a similar situation had it occurred on Troy’s campus. African American parents do not send their children to school to be unprotected by the university’s police force. Mr.McCall’s cavalier attitude could be a critical and dangerous problem on a campus where one-third of the student body is minority or people of color, some from an international background. How can anyone with Mr. McCall’s near-sighted perspective effectively lead other officers charged with protecting and serving the whole student body? His reference to Mr. Floyd’s murder as a mistake shows his disregard for proper policing techniques, and presumably, the same disregard for the safety and lives of African Americans and people of color on Troy’s campus.

 

From a university’s perspective, students are the most valuable asset that the university has. Parents do not send their children to college to be treated in this manner or to be unprotected or victimized by someone with Mr. McCall’s attitude. Troy University’s legal liability for maintaining Mr.McCall on staff is great; his continued employment will undoubtedly be rightfully challenged and the focus of many legal challenges to come for Troy’s foreseeable future.  At a minimum, there may be student protests on Troy’s campus like elsewhere if there is not an immediatechange. The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, and other notable news services have already published the out-of-step comments that Mr. McCall unabashedly offered regarding Mr. Floyd’s death.

 

Mr. McCall’s continued employment with Troy University will also erode African Americans’ and other peoples of color’s confidence in the university’s commitment to fairness and equality. If the university truly supports the call for police reform and an end to police violence that disproportionately impacts African Americans, that reform needs to begin at home. We call on the university toterminate Mr. McCall from the university’s police force.

 

The university cannot say it supports this cause while allowing someone who clearly believes excessive police force is acceptable when affecting a “lawful arrest”remains employed there. What message does that send to the university’s African American students and parents, faculty and staff, and alumni? If Mr. McCall is allowed to remain on the university police force, in any capacity, it conveys that African American and minority lives and safety are not valued, and are likely threatened, by remaining at Troy University.   Maya Angelou famously and correctly said: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Mr. McCall has shown who he is through his posts. The final decision that Troy University makes will demonstrate its actual commitment to reform and an end to police violence, and, significantly, will symbolize removal of the oppressive knee of racial inequality, injustice, prejudice, brutality, discrimination, and unequal treatment from the necks of African-Americansand people of color who are part of the Troy family.

 

We look forward to having further dialogue with you regarding our concerns and racial equity and justice, as well as addressing how the Troy family can move forward from here.