THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY POLICE DEPARTMENT
My first encounters with the WMPD and my first message to the W&M police chief, Deb Cheesebro, who I had never met.
| message_-_reply_chief_cheesebro_march_23_2016.pdf |
By the way, Deb, for what it is worth, I do not intend to target W&M police in that last grievance. They
were not favorably disposed toward me in their visit to my home this past Friday night, they made that
clear. And on Oct 21, one of the two officers who stopped me on the way to class asked me, "What is
your mental illness?" The other asked me to list the medications I take. Under the ADA, I am supposed
to be outraged. But I respect the police at William & Mary. They do not have an easy job, and I consider
them underpaid. I do wish one of the two here on Friday night had been a bit more polite. But this
situation can only have been incomprehensible to him, and he is under the influence of actors who do
not have the interests of the College at heart. The arrests will prove to be yet another catastrophe for
the College. I do not blame the WMPD for this tragedy.
Thank you for hearing me out. I do appreciate your kindness.
Sincerely,
David Dessler
were not favorably disposed toward me in their visit to my home this past Friday night, they made that
clear. And on Oct 21, one of the two officers who stopped me on the way to class asked me, "What is
your mental illness?" The other asked me to list the medications I take. Under the ADA, I am supposed
to be outraged. But I respect the police at William & Mary. They do not have an easy job, and I consider
them underpaid. I do wish one of the two here on Friday night had been a bit more polite. But this
situation can only have been incomprehensible to him, and he is under the influence of actors who do
not have the interests of the College at heart. The arrests will prove to be yet another catastrophe for
the College. I do not blame the WMPD for this tragedy.
Thank you for hearing me out. I do appreciate your kindness.
Sincerely,
David Dessler
Statement by Chief Deb Cheesebro, WMPD
June 2, 2020 (in wake of the George Floyd murder)
This department will not condone excessive force. My direction to our department will always be bias-free policing. Officers are expected to treat everyone with dignity, courtesy and respect. I will stand for no less.
"Professional" is a word many claim, but far fewer deserve. It is not just about training, equipment, or looking good in uniform. It is about having the right heart as you go about your craft. It is about applying your knowledge and skills in a bias-free manner, and in fact, in a way that promotes inclusivity. Our officers will continue to rely on our values as a department and use our training and teamwork to keep you and others safe in our community.
While there are instances where police do need to restrain someone, there is a right way for this to be done. The videos of Mr. Floyd’s arrest showed unwarranted, excessive force. It is long past due for these injustices to stop. It is critical that all police stay focused on doing the right thing, and that includes condemning these blatant violations of human rights.
Sometimes I am asked about WMPD's policing philosophy, where values drive our approach and decisions. We have a mission much broader than enforcing laws. We also focus on community. And in enforcing the law we strive to do so with good intent and sensitivity. WMPD needs to model the right way, every day. And in the event we make a mistake, we need to acknowledge that and work to improve.
"Professional" is a word many claim, but far fewer deserve. It is not just about training, equipment, or looking good in uniform. It is about having the right heart as you go about your craft. It is about applying your knowledge and skills in a bias-free manner, and in fact, in a way that promotes inclusivity. Our officers will continue to rely on our values as a department and use our training and teamwork to keep you and others safe in our community.
While there are instances where police do need to restrain someone, there is a right way for this to be done. The videos of Mr. Floyd’s arrest showed unwarranted, excessive force. It is long past due for these injustices to stop. It is critical that all police stay focused on doing the right thing, and that includes condemning these blatant violations of human rights.
Sometimes I am asked about WMPD's policing philosophy, where values drive our approach and decisions. We have a mission much broader than enforcing laws. We also focus on community. And in enforcing the law we strive to do so with good intent and sensitivity. WMPD needs to model the right way, every day. And in the event we make a mistake, we need to acknowledge that and work to improve.