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.
Law enforcement agencies must carefully balance the optics of providing public safety during protests while preparing for the potential of violence
Police responses to public protests and unrest have varied over time
Different police tactics yield different responses from protesters: tactical mismatches are likely to influence escalation as well as who joins or desists from protest events
Jurors were intimidated by ongoing protests and prejudiced by excessive pre-trial publicity, Chauvin’s lawyers said
Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane face a second trial in June on state charges alleging they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter
The officers’ use of force was “absolutely legitimate,” wrote arbitrator Jeffrey Selchick, who added that the protester was “definitely not an innocent bystander”
This report is a hard read, but necessary for police leaders around the country
First-responders had little guidance and traveled blindly into dangerous situations, a report said
The bill raises penalties for crimes like blocking highways and damaging property
A new report offers 38 recommendations for police agencies on how to handle demonstrations like the ones in the summer of 2020
Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were charged with depriving George Floyd of his right to medical care
“Those officers should be praised for their efforts, not prosecuted,” said Gov. Greg Abbott
The defense has said the officers weren’t adequately trained on the duty to intervene
Austin’s police chief has said that he is “extremely disappointed” by the indictments
Ex-cop Thomas Lane questioned Derek Chauvin but was ignored, Lane’s defense attorney said
Former Minneapolis Officer Thomas Lane testified Monday in a federal civil rights trial
In a press conference, Chief Joseph Chacon rebuked a grand jury decision to charge 19 officers over conduct related to civil unrest in 2020
J. Alexander Kueng took the witness stand on Wednesday, a day after former officer Tou Thao
Former Minneapolis officers J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane have also said they will testify
“If you see another officer using too much force, you need to intervene,” said Lt. Richard Zimmerman at the civil rights trial of three former cops
Defense attorney Thomas Plunkett focused on the fact that when MPD officers are trained in use of force scenarios, intervention is not taught
Ex-officer Tou Thao’s attorney said that while Floyd’s death was tragic, “a tragedy is not a crime”
Here’s what to expect
If police forces are going to meet the needs of the communities they serve, they must collaborate and create a plan guided by evidence and governed by equity
However, the trial will remain set for March 7 if the attorneys cannot agree on a new date
The postponement was being sought while a federal civil rights trial goes forward
Radio chatter about a nonexistent threat during unrest in 2020 was improper, a watchdog group said
At least five agencies sent up to 325 federal officers a day to Portland from June through Sept. 30, 2020
Chauvin’s plea means he will not face a federal trial in January, though he may end up with more years behind bars
The challenges and trends that defined 2021
From community policing initiatives to active shooter response, here are some of the most popular Policing Matters podcasts of the year
St. Paul officials cited safety concerns and security expenses required for the new venue
If you wish to prepare your agency for unrest it would behoove you to read the entire report
