Richmond police Chief Bisa French said Tuesday that the Richmond Police Department “supports the decision of the jury in the State of Minnesota vs Derek Chauvin case.”
“The criminal justice system has conducted its due diligence and the jury members have reached their verdict of guilty, and we respect this process,” Chief French said in a statement posted to social media. “We ask that everyone respect the verdict of the court and remain peaceful in this politically sensitive time in our country.”
Chief French added, “The Richmond Police Department reaffirms it’s commitment to serve our community in a respectful and just manner. We hold ourselves accountable for performing our duties in the highest level of operational excellence possible and look forward to continuing to partner with you, our community, to protect and to serve.”
Earlier Tuesday, Chauvin was found guilty by a jury of murder in the second and third degrees, as well as second-degree manslaughter, in connection with the killing of George Floyd in May 2020. Video footage of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes as Floyd was handcuffed on the ground prior to his death prompted nationwide protesting and calls for dramatic police reform.
