Vice President Pence tells Channel 11 they won’t defund police despite protests

PITTSBURGH — Vice President Mike Pence is in the Pittsburgh area for his Great American Comeback Tour and told Channel 11 he is willing to meet with the family of George Floyd, the Minnesota man killed by police last month.

“President Trump already spoke to members of the Floyd family and expressed our grief and condolences," Pence told Channel 11 News anchor Lisa Sylvester. “What happened to George Floyd was a national disgrace and shocked the conscience of the nation. Our hearts go out to his family.”

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President Trump was in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday and Vice President Pence said they have the same goals.

“We are working with members of the law enforcement community, we are working with community leaders, like those we spoke to in the Pittsburgh area today, to find ways that we can improve policing,” Pence said. “We can give law enforcement officers more resources, more support, more guidance in the proper use of force. Despite what happened on the streets of Minneapolis, we will demand that justice is served.”

He went on to say:

“I truly do believe that most Americans know that, most men and women that put on the uniform of law enforcement everyday are the best of us,” Pence said. "They risk their lives everyday to protect our families, and as we go forward, the president and I are going to work, look for ways we can improve law enforcement. We are not doing to defund the police. We are going to stand with law enforcement, give them new resources and new tools, to make it possible for us to come together as a country.”

Pence is in Pittsburgh as part of his Great American Comeback Tour and is making several stops in both Allegheny and Butler counties.

Watch the video below for Pence’s full interview with Channel 11′s Lisa Sylvester.

Air Force Two landed about 10:30 a.m. at the 171st Air Refueling Wing at Pittsburgh International Airport.

From the airport, a motorcade took Pence to Covenant Church in Pittsburgh, where he participated in a listening session with faith and community leaders. He then had lunch at a local restaurant.

Pence is spending the afternoon touring Oberg Industries and speaking to employees. He’s scheduled to speak Friday afternoon.

Friday’s visit to the Pittsburgh area is Pence’s first of his “Great American Comeback Tour.”

According to the tour’s website, Pence will talk about policy solutions to rebuild the American economy.

The tour is sponsored by America First Policies, a nonprofit associated with the America First Action super PAC supporting President Trump’s reelection.

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WPXI VP Mike Pence in western Pa. Vice President Mike Pence is in the Pittsburgh area for his Great American Comeback Tour and interviewed with Channel 11's Lisa Sylvester. (WPXI)

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