After five Rams players' 'hands up don't shoot' gesture sparked controversy among the St. Louis law enforcement community, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said the players were practicing their freedom of speech. VPC
A Rams executive apologized to St. Louis county law enforcement on Monday for the 'hands up-don't shoot' gesture performed by five of the team's players before Sunday's game at the Edward Jones Dome.
St. Louis County Police Sgt. Shawn McGuire confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Monday night that Kevin Demoff, the Rams' executive vice president of football operations and chief operating officer, apologized for the players' actions. The apology was first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
According to the Post-Dispatch, county police chief Jon Belmar sent his staff a memo in which he detailed a call from Demoff, in which Belmar said Demoff 'regretted that any members of the Ram's organization would act in a way that minimized the outstanding work that police officers and departments carry out each and every day.'
Earlier Monday, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher told reporters that Demoff had met with St. Louis law enforcement, but directed any questions about the franchise's response to the players' gesture to Demoff, who has not been made available for interviews.
The Rams issued a statement Monday in which the team acknowledged conversations between Demoff and Belmar, as well as the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's chief and representatives from the St. Louis Police Officers' Association and the St. Louis County Police Association.
'We expressed our respect for their concerns surrounding yesterday's game,' the statement read. 'What has transpired over the past four months is a tragedy that has impacted our entire community. Together we are beginning a healing process that will require time, energy and honest dialogue. The Rams will continue to build on what have always been strong and valued relationships with local law enforcement and the greater St. Louis community as we come together to help heal our region.'Fisher said none of the five players would be punished the team for their hand's up pose made before Sunday's game against Oakland, nor will they face any sort of discipline from the NFL.
Fisher, who declined to answer questions about the demonstration, described the pregame gesture as a 'choice to exercise their free speech.' He had not spoken to the five players about it by Monday evening, but he said he planned to.
'Those conversations will most likely remain confidential,' Fisher said.
The St. Louis Police Officers' Association on Sunday night wrote a letter condemning the pose in light of a grand jury's decision last week not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of African-American teenager Michael Brown.
The police officers' association called the players' actions 'tasteless, offensive and inflammatory.'
Several of the Rams players spoke to reporters after the Rams' win Sunday evening, and said they were trying to do something positive.
'Violence should stop. There's a lot of violence going on here in St. Louis. We definitely hear about it all, and we just want it to stop,' said receiver Stedman Bailey.
None of the five players who participated were available for interviews on Monday.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, December 1, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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