MY VIEW: Orange County Sheriff John Mina responds to protests

By Orange County Sheriff John Mina

The actions of the officers involved in the death of George Floyd are indefensible, unexplainable and criminal. When these types of horrific incidents occur, they undermine the public trust in law enforcement, and that is something my team and I at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office work hard to build.

I am committed to serving our community with integrity. That is why any alleged misconduct is thoroughly investigated and why we have a zero-tolerance policy for the use of excessive force. We emphasize the importance of de-escalation tactics and make sure deputies understand it is their obligation to step in if they see a fellow deputy escalating a situation.

This past weekend, we saw thousands of people make their voices heard by participating in countywide demonstrations. And although I do not fully understand the hurt and fear many people of color experience, I was proud to stand in solidarity and participate in several demonstrations by engaging in dialogue and taking a knee with protestors.

Unfortunately, some individuals brought disorder and took advantage of the demonstrations to vandalize and break into businesses. While I support and defend the right to peaceful assembly, please be assured that law enforcement will not tolerate acts of violence or property damage.

Orange County has instituted a curfew to help ensure the safety of our residents. We also have additional personnel on hand to provide increased presence throughout the County. We are prepared and equipped to ensure the safety of both our residents and peaceful demonstrators.