Black police group gives Rams its support

Tavon Austin was one of five players who showed support for Ferguson protesters. (USATSI)

The Rams may not have the support of the St. Louis Police Officer's Association, but the team does have the support of at least one police group in St. Louis.

The Ethical Society of Police -- which represents African American cops in St. Louis -- released a statement this week saying that it commends the Rams for the Ferguson gesture they did before the team's Week 13 game against the Raiders.

Jared Cook, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Tavon Austin all did the "Hands-up-don't-shoot" pose as they entered the field before the Rams' 52-0 win over the Raiders.

Cook said the group decided to do it out of respect to the Ferguson, "We wanted to come out and show our respect to the protests and the people who have been doing a heck of a job around the world," Cook said following the Rams win over the Raiders.

The Rams play only 12 miles from Ferguson, where a grand jury decided on Nov. 24 not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.

The ESP called the gesture 'commendable' and added that the five Rams players "should not be ridiculed, disciplined or punished for taking a stand on this very important issue."

The Ethical Society of Police clearly doesn't agree with how the St. Louis Police Officer's Association reacted to the gesture.

Earlier this week, the SLPOA said it was "extremely disappointed" and was "calling for the players involved to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to deliver a very public apology."

The SLPOA and the Rams were also at odds because the group announced that the team had apologized for the gesture. The Rams later released a statement saying that the team didn't apologize.

The NFL has already announced that it won't be punishing the players invovled.

The African American police group actually took a shot at the SLPOA in their statement saying that the SLPOA's view didn't represent the view of most St. Louis cops because "There are no African American officers on [the SLPOA's] governing board."

You can read the entire statement from the Ethical Society of Police below.

ST. LOUIS CITY AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS SUPPORT THE RAMS PLAYERS ACTIONS

The Statements of the St. Louis Police Officers Association does not represent the opinion of a majority of African American Officers.

THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE, is the primary voice of African American Police Officers in St. Louis City, and as such it COMPLETELY SUPPORTS THE ACTIONS OF THE ST. LOUIS RAMS FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN WHICH THEY SHOWED SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL BROWN BY ENTERING THE STADIUM WITH THEIR HANDS UP.

We think that their actions were commendable and that they should not be ridiculed, disciplined or punished for taking a stand on this very important issue which is of great concern around the world and especially in the community where these players work.

THE STATEMENTS OF THE ST. LOUIS POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE MAJORITY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO AFRICAN AMERICAN OFFICERS ON THEIR GOVERNING BOARD AND THEY HAVE A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEMBERS.

The Ethical Society of Police has been the primary bridge between African American community and the police department for many years. The Ethical Society will use its best efforts to continue to work with the community leaders and the Department of Justice to address issues that affect our community such as racial profiling, police brutality and disparities in hiring and disciplining practices of African American Officers.

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