Association of Prosecuting Attorney's Executive Committee Statement 

June 2, 2020

Today, the Executive Committee of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA), which Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill serves as Vice-Chair, released the following statement:

The Executive Committee of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA), an organization representing many of the nation’s prosecutors, including some of the largest offices in the country, expresses our condolences to the family and friends of George Floyd. We too are horrified at the death of Mr. Floyd at the hands of police. It is our responsibility to stand with our victims, to fight for justice, and speak when harm comes to our communities. This is clearly one of those times. This organization has led the fight for change for communities who are over-policed, yet grossly under-represented for receiving justice. APA has steadfastly addressed police reform in a variety of contexts, including the investigation and review when officers engage in use of force under the color of law. We have demanded independent and neutral investigations and we will continue to fight for those reforms in every police department. We join all who demand an end to racism, bigotry and hate in all of its forms. We resolve to live in a place where equity occurs when a person’s identity doesn’t dictate the outcome. Now is the time to institute real reform.

Jean Peters Baker, Chair

Jackson County Prosecutor (Kansas City, MO)

 Rod Underhill, Vice-Chair

Multnomah County District Attorney (Portland, OR)

Spencer B. Merriweather III, Secretary

District Attorney, 26th Prosecutorial District (Charlotte, NC)