Conduct Internet research on a police officer who was convicted by a jury of excessive use of force that was in the news media. An example would be Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke and the killing of Laquan McDonald; however, please do not use this example for your assignment. 

Once you have selected the specific case, write an essay that addresses the information below.

• Write an introduction that provides an overview of the events that occurred. 
• Discuss police officer use of force in this incident. 
• What was the makeup of the jury? Was this a fair representation of the local area? 
• Why was this conviction viewed as a break from the norm in jury selection and outcome? Were there any decision-making points within the criminal justice system that were used to determine discrimination? 
• What are your personal thoughts on a police officer being convicted or not convicted? Do you think that the police officer showed suspect bias? 

 

Criminology

Derek Chauvin, Former Minneapolis Police Officer

            Floyd had been accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill to pay for a cigarettes' pack. After refusing to return the cigarettes, a teenage shop assistant at Cup Foods grocery store called the police to the scene. Chauvin handcuffed Floyd and pinned him to the ground until he lost consciousness. After the officers took him to the hospital, Floyd was pronounced dead on May 25, 2020. This death sparked nationwide protests against excessive police use of force in which protesters demanded justice for Floyd.

Chauvin's Use Of Force

            Chauvin used excessive force despite Floyd being an unarmed civilian. Even though the victim tried to resist the arrest, this officer and the other three officers could not use the force. Chauvin's act to kneel on Mr. Floyd's neck for approximately nine minutes implies an excessive use of force. Floyd attempted to plead with the officer that "I can't breathe" about twenty times, but Chauvin did not stop (McGreal, 2021). When Floyd woke up from his car, he saw an officer's gun. As a result, Floyd instantly grew distressed and started pleading with the officers not to kill him, but none of the four officers listened to him.

            According to the Minneapolis police chief, Medaria Arradondo, there was no need for Chauvin to kneel on George Floyd's neck for at least 9 minutes. Floyd, at one point, stopped resisting the arrest, an indication that the officer should have stopped using excessive force in this arrest. Already, the victim was in distress and tried to verbalize and plead with Chauvin to stop kneeling on his neck (The New York Times, 2021). Generally, the subsequent actions of Chauvin did not qualify for the standard of "objectively reasonable force." A continued application of that force level by Chauvin to an individual prone-out, handcuffed behind their back, is a use of excessive force.

Jury's Makeup

            The jury found the officer guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, thus responsible for the death. In the second-degree murder charge, the jury stated that Chauvin inflicted offensive physical contact on Floyd with his knee, which unintentionally led to death. The third-degree murder charge revealed that Chauvin acted with a "depraved mind." The manslaughter charge showed the officer's culpable negligence that caused the death (The New York Times, 2021). This verdict was a fair representation of the local area because, for a long time, locals have raised concerns about the approaches that the criminal justice system has been using to dehumanize blacks.

The Conviction Viewed As A Break From The Norm In Jury Selection And Outcome?

            The conviction was perceived as a break from the norm because jurors' names were upheld. The judge directed jurors' names withheld until after the case because the trial was high-profile in nature. For instance, jurors assigned a numerical number name; Juror No. 2, 9, 19, 27, 44, 52, 55, 79, 85, 89, 91, 92, 96, 118, and 131 (Berman, 2021). Also, the court provided their races and approximate ages. The used decision-making points within the criminal justice system to determine discrimination were reliance on the defense that came from the Supreme Court's 1989 Graham v. Connor decision. The defense states that an officer's actions must get judged against what a reasonable officer would do in the same situation.

Personal Thoughts

            I think Chauvin's conviction is the right decision. What he did when he kneeled on George Floyd's neck was not only unforgivable, but it reflected a brutal disregard for Floyd's life and discrimination against black people. Thus, the officer is morally and criminally responsible for the death. I am glad he was convicted after refusing to respond to Floyd's plead due to the influence of racial bias when discharging policing duties.

Outline-Criminology

Derek Chauvin, Former Minneapolis Police Officer

• Floyd had been accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill to pay for a cigarettes' pack.
• After refusing to return the cigarettes, a teenage shop assistant at Cup Foods grocery store called the police to the scene.
• Chauvin handcuffed Floyd and pinned him to the ground until he lost consciousness.

Chauvin's Use Of Force

• Chauvin used excessive force despite Floyd being an unarmed civilian.
• According to the Minneapolis police chief, Medaria Arradondo, there was no need for Chauvin to kneel on George Floyd's neck for at least 9 minutes.

Jury's Makeup

• The jury found the officer guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, thus responsible for the death.

The Conviction Viewed As A Break From The Norm In Jury Selection And Outcome?

• The conviction was perceived as a break from the norm because jurors' names were upheld.

Personal Thoughts

• I think Chauvin's conviction is the right decision.
• What he did when he kneeled on George Floyd's neck was not only unforgivable, but it reflected a brutal disregard for Floyd's life and discrimination against black people.