#Minneapolis Police chief urges healing, peace after Derek Chauvin verdict

Minneapolis’ top cop says the community can “begin to heal,” after former officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd Tuesday.

“I want to acknowledge and thank the jurors on this case for their immense responsibility and honorable civic duty,” Police Chief Medaria Arradondo wrote in a statement shared by journalist Tony Webster on Twitter.

“We recognize that our community is hurting, and our hearts are heavy with many emotions. However, I have hope,” Arradondo, who is black, wrote.

“The community I was born and raised in, and that we serve is resilient and together, we can find our moment to begin to heal,” Arradondo said after testifying that Chauvin violated department policy and training during the fatal encounter.

The chief asked for “safety and peace in our communities, today and in the days to come,” while writing he supports peaceful protests.

The statement was nowhere to be found on the department’s website Tuesday night as a department statement from May 25, 2020, made the rounds on social media.

That missive said that Floyd “physically resisted officers” and “appeared to be suffering medical distress.”

Arradondo has said that former officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao are also responsible for Floyd’s death, while being arrested on suspicion of using a fake $20 bill.

The trio face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder as well as second-degree manslaughter. A trial date has been set for Aug. 23.

Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison after being convicted of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.