Vero Beach police hold justice for Floyd event on front steps of department

The Vero Beach Police Department decided to hold justice for George Floyd event Thursday on the front steps of the police department after walking step for step with demonstrators in a peaceful protest that took place downtown.

MEMBERS TOGETHER - WITH POLICE- PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE ANDCALL FOR JUSTICE IN GEORGEFLOYD'S DEATH.

OFFICERS WALKEDSTEP FOR STEP WITHDEMONSTRATORS - BEFORE HOLDINGTHEIR OWN EVENT.

WPTVNEWSCHANNEL 5'S DEREK LOWETALKED TO THE POLICE CHIEF ONWHY HIS DEPARTMENT IS TAKINGTHE EXTRA STEPRIGHT HERE ON THE FRONT STEPSOF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ISWHERE SEVERAL RESIDENTS ANDOFFICERS GATHERED TOGETHER TOUNITE AND STRENGTHENRELATIONSHIPS.

THAT'S HOW YOUBUILD THE TRUST AND EARN THETRUST.

YOU CAN'T WAIT FORSOMETHING TO HAPPEN AND SAY,'HEY, WHERE IS OUR SUPPORT?'VERO BEACH POLICE CHIEF DAVIDCURREY SAYS THE KEY WITHBUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPSWITH RESIDENTS, IS CONSTANTLYWORKING ON THEM.

WE NEED TO BEOUT THERE ALL THE TIME ANDEARN THE TRUST SO WE CANGARNER THAT SUPPORT.

AT THEJUSTICE FOR FLOYD EVENT,SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE ANDCALLED FOR MORE POLICEACCOUNTABILITY.

IF WE'RE GOINGTO ALLOW THEM TO PLAY JUDGE,JURY AND EXECUTIONER, I WANTTO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

WENEED MORE ACCOUNTABILITY,ACCESSIBILITY ANDTRANSPARENCY.

YOU GET THATWITH MANDATING BODY CAMERAS.YOU GET THAT WHEN YOU NOLONGER LET POLICE, POLICETHEMSELVES.

MICHAEL MARSHLIVES IN VERO BEACH... HISBEST FRIEND COREY JONES WASSHOT AND KILLED BY A POLICEOFFICER NEARLY 5 YEARS AGO.

IDID EVERYTHING FROM SHUTTINGDOWN STREETS TO 95.

IT DOESN'TGET YOU ANYWHERE.

MARSH SAYSITS TIME TO WORK HAND IN HANDWITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENACREAL CHANGE.

I WOULD SAY IHAVE MUCH RESPECT FOR THE VEROBEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEFACT THAT THEY ARE THE ONLYAGENCY DOING THIS SPEAKSVOLUMES.

AND I WANT TO SEEOTHER AGENCIES DO THIS BEFORETHESE TYPES OF TRAGEDIESHAPPEN.

CHIEF CURREY SAYINGPROACTIVITY IS THE KEY TPEACE.

WE WANTED TO HEAR THEIRMESSAGE AND WE WANTED TODELIVER A MESSAGE SO I THINKSTANDING HERE RIGHT NOW, ITHINK IT MORE THANACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE WANTED TODO.

CHIEF CURREY SAYS POLICEBRUTALITY IS NOT SOMETHING HEWANTS ASSOCIATED WITH HISPROFESSION.

HE SAYS HISDEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THISMOVEMENT.<"EVERYONE WANTS JUSTICE.

WEWANT JUSTICE FOR GEORGE.

ANDHE'S GOING TO GET IT., HE'SGOING TO GET IT."