George Floyd Protests
Bystander footage of the in-custody death of George Floyd led to the firing of four Minneapolis police officers and violent protests in the city and throughout the nation. Derek Chauvin, the officer seen in the video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for several minutes, was later arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, for which he was found guilty on April 20, 2021.
Police1 coverage of events reviews 12 things every police department’s civil unrest plan needs, the 5 stages of riot prep, why police reform must be evidence-based and why community solidarity matters.
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In a year that brought relentless challenges, these are the five events the P1 team and our readership viewed as having the most significant impact
Police leaders must act to protect these valuable resources ‒ and the personnel within ‒ from the violence of the mob
The flags were originally purchased and flown on the firetrucks to show support for a fallen police officer
US agents declared an “unlawful assembly” and confronted demonstrators just after 1 a.m., working for hours to clear the area
As communities ask for greater transparency about those who protect and serve them, the PIO has become critical in addressing those demands
While no solution will likely attract everyone as signatories, any reform must be credible and impactful to succeed
Misguided attempts to reposition the duties of police PIOs to non-law enforcement folks will end in failure
Cutting communities off from information about public safety is short-sighted and reckless
Police said they arrested at least 45 people for assaults on officers, obstruction and failure to disperse
An Oakland police spokesperson said a violent group broke off from an otherwise peaceful march with intention to cause destruction
The unrest Saturday and early Sunday included two shootings
3 officers may not recover sight in eyes that were hit with lasers at Portland protests, said Deputy Director of Operations Richard Cline
Police union president called the unsubstantiated claim ‘ridiculous’ and accused the commissioner of being ‘part of the problem in Portland’
The 59-year-old sustained skull fractures and a loss of vision in one eye, according to her family and attorney
“We’re not allowed to let one side win. But guess what? We did on Sunday. And for that, we were wrong,” said union president Nick Rogers
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said using US agents to deal with protesters would be “unacceptable”
The judge had previously ruled that journalists and legal observers are exempt from police orders requiring protesters to disperse
They will investigate use of force allegations and examine whether agents improperly detained or transported protesters in Portland
The bill bans neck restraints, chokeholds and warrior-style training
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Just as we use evidence-based medicine to determine treatments, we should use evidence-based research to determine police policies
Video of the incident circulated on social media, prompting an uproar
Specialized squads are being scrutinized for potential cuts and must prove their worth
City officials unanimously voted to approve the policies, calling them necessary as President Trump has refused to remove federal officers from the city
Mayor Ted Wheeler has opposed US agents’ presence, but has faced criticism for not reigning in local police who used tear gas
Hundreds of thousands of good-hearted, well-trained officers choose to stand between the righteous citizenry and danger
“We are not patrolling the streets of Portland, as has been falsely reported multiple times in the last few days,” Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of DHS, said
Discussions between the Illinois NAACP and Illinois police chiefs identified common ground between local LE and the communities they serve
Mayor Lori Lightfoot initially threatened to sue if President Trump sent federal agents to Chicago, but later changed her tone
District Court Judge Peter Cahill said he agreed with defense attorneys’ arguments that a gag order would be unfair to their clients
Protesters said they would camp out until the city reduced the New York Police Department’s budget by $1 billion
Trump said he’ll likely order similar responses in other cities including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit and Baltimore
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