Today, former police officer Derek Chauvin finally faced the consequences of his actions. The first of four ex-officers charged with the murder of George Floyd, Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.
The sentencing was welcomed by a community that has members of law enforcement acquitted of killing members of the Black community since slavery.
While arresting Floyd for allegedly passing a fake twenty-dollar bill, Chauvin kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes on May 25, 2020, despite pleas from Floyd and bystanders including children.
Judge Peter Cahill’s 26-page order followed a memo from the prosecution team that stated Chauvin’s actions had a “profound impact” as they asked for a 30 year sentence. The maximum time possible was forty years.
Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane await trial for their roles in the murder.
