St. Louis Rams players who showed support for Michael Brown 's family should be praised , an organization representing black police officers in St. Louis says . `` 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 Ethical Society of Police of St. Louis said in a statement this week . The group has about 220 members from the city 's police force in its ranks , the society 's general counsel , Gloria McCollum , told CNN Wednesday . It describes itself as `` the primary voice of African-American police officers in St. Louis city . '' Earlier this week the St. Louis Police Officers Association said it was `` tasteless , offensive and inflammatory '' when five Rams players who walked onto the field Sunday displaying the `` hands up , do n't shoot '' gesture adopted by protesters . The association 's business manager , Jeff Roorda , demanded that the players be punished and that the team issue a `` very public apology . '' `` I 'd remind the NFL and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertiser 's products , '' Roorda 's statement said . `` It 's cops and the good people of St. Louis and other NFL towns that do . Somebody needs to throw a flag on this play . If it 's not the NFL and the Rams , then it 'll be cops and their supporters . '' But that does n't represent the views of most black officers in the city , the Ethical Society of Police said . The St. Louis Police Officers Association has no black officers on its governing board and `` a minimal amount of African-American members , '' the Ethical Society of Police said . The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has nearly 2,000 employees , according to its website . About 30 % of the department 's commissioned officers are African-American , the society says . The Ethical Society of Police 's statement said 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 . '' A representative from the St. Louis Police Officers Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment . The Rams declined to discipline the players or issue an apology , but the team sent a representative to speak with police . On Monday , St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar claimed he had received an apology . The team denied it ever said sorry . The players said they were n't trying to stir up trouble so much as show their support for the suburb just north of the city where they play . That does n't sit well with the St. Louis Police Officers Association , which still wants its apology . Cedric Alexander , president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives , said his organization is n't taking a side on the matter . `` The bigger issue is healing as a community and nation and moving forward , '' he said . Alexander , who 's also police chief in DeKalb County , Georgia , said he hopes the Rams and the St. Louis police associations `` can all get together to promote a sense of community that will be a role model for what we need to do together going forward in St. Louis , across the country and around the world . '' Complete coverage on Ferguson .
An association representing black St. Louis police officers praises Rams players . Group says players ' `` actions were commendable '' and they should n't be punished . The group responds to criticism of the five Rams from another police organization . The criticism does n't represent views of most black officers , the Ethical Society of Police says .