The Board of Police Commissioners met this week for the first time since March. Due to continued safety measures in place for the current health emergency, commissioners had their first experience with a call-in meeting.

Among the topics discussed during the June 2 meeting were the ongoing construction of Newtown Police Department’s new headquarters, continued COVID-19 protocols being followed by department employees, approaching retirements, and the police union’s contract negotiations.

There was no public participation Tuesday evening.

One of the main items addressed was the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died on May 25 during an arrest by police officers in Minneapolis, Minn. Floyd was face down on pavement while a white police officer pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck — a technique Chairman Joel Faxon referred to as “neck compression” — while two other police officers reportedly further restrained the man, and another officer reportedly prevented onlookers from intervening.

Floyd’s death has led to protests and rallies, often turning violent, across the country. Police Chief James Viadero and First Selectman Dan Rosenthal each released statements over the past weekend concerning the troubling incident (see related story); Viadero further addressed the incident Tuesday night.

“After viewing that video last week — and I can speak for every member of our department — we were disgusted. We’re heartbroken. We’re ashamed of what happened. We’re particularly ashamed of the individuals that stood by and did nothing while that individual was murdered on the street,” he said. In recent days, he said, many of his police officers have approached him with questions and comments regarding the Floyd homicide and its continuing aftermath.

“As a leader, I will never tolerate that behavior. We took an oath,” the chief told the commission. “We swore to protect the citizens of the United States and the community, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The police chief called the actions of the Minneapolis department and its officers “a complete breakdown there.” One of his biggest concerns, he said, was the fact that a uniformed police officer could do something so wrong, in broad daylight.

“What was the culture that was accepted over there? I can assure you that’s not the culture of law enforcement in Newtown,” he stated.

Newtown’s police department, Viadero continued, “understands the lack of trust, in the community as a whole, in law enforcement right now, and we’re going to have to work to rebuild that trust. We’re going to have to earn that trust.”

Training, trust, and accountability are all part of the local department’s culture, the police chief said. Training is done well above industry minimums, he trusts his supervisors and command staff “implicitly,” he said, and he holds every officer accountable for their work.

The body camera program that was put into place and the complaint process for the public, he said, “is very transparent, and very accessible.”

The chief understands, he said, the outrage he and others are hearing from the community.

“They’ve got every reason to hold us accountable,” he said. “We should be accountable to the community that we serve. We hear them. We hear their voice. We just ask that it be peaceful.”

Later in the meeting, in response to a question from Faxon, Viadero further addressed the technique used by the Minneapolis police officer that led to the death of George Floyd.

“It’s not approved, and it’s not taught,” Viadero said of Newtown’s policies and procedures. He reiterated that Newtown officers are not trained in that use of force. Floyd was “not resisting, he was compliant,” the chief noted. There was no purpose to the use of such force, he added.

Neck compression is not only not taught, the chief reiterated, it is prohibited in Newtown and statewide.

“I can assure you, that’s not a practice that is taught anywhere in Connecticut,” he added. “It’s not something we would adhere to in Newtown.”

Later in the meeting, Commissioner Neil Chaudhary, who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 (see related story), was given a round of applause for his recovery.

Chaudhary joked that he was happy his fellow commissioners canceled the April and May Police Commission meetings, saying it meant he continued to maintain a perfect attendance record.

Before adjourning, the commission decided to conduct a special meeting on July 7, even though the group usually does not meet that month. Having missed two meeting opportunities already this year, however, Faxon mentioned early on Tuesday that he would like the group to meet again sooner rather than later.

A location will be selected that will allow the commission to gather in person. Unless pandemic restrictions are further lifted before that evening, the public will be invited to participate through a call-in or video conference.