Local community takes a breath after Chauvin's guilty verdict
Seconds after the verdict of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s criminal trial, community activist Tina Royal found herself in uncontrollable tears. She admitted, “It’s just like a weight had been lifted and now we can breathe a little bit again.”
“Please, I can’t breathe,” pleaded an unarmed George Floyd in the tragic video. “Relax,” officers rebuff him. Those were the last words of the 46-year-old Black man who died in the street, handcuffed, as Chauvin forced his knee into Floyd’s neck on May 25, 2020.
A person holds a Justice 4 Mr Floyd sign outside City Hall in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota as the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin began Monday morning. {Lorie Shaull/Wikipedia Photos}
After deliberating for nearly 10 hours over two days following an emotional trial that lasted three weeks, the jury found Chauvin guilty of all counts including second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter of Floyd. Members of law enforcement in Davidson County and the nation took a collective sigh as the verdict was read on April 20, 2021.
Royal, a Davidson County probation officer, calls herself “tough” but says the sheer number of repeated killings of unarmed Black people brought her to her knees. “I deal with guilty people all day. I can’t look at people and I can tell when they mean harm.” After a year of turmoil, she was thankful a jury found Chauvin guilty. Royal sat alone in a room while the verdict was read because “anxiety was high.”
Having helped coordinate rallies, protests and peaceful demonstrations, Royal felt the need to close her office door and pray. “I couldn’t really go anywhere. I wanted to take a moment to talk to God.”
The challenge of preparing for the verdict was complicated for the Lexington Police Department [LPD]. The verdict comes on the heels of retired LPD Officer David Parde's (54) death on April 18 due to complications suffered after being shot while investigating a suspicious person report nearly 29 years ago.
According to his obituary, Officer Parde's, funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at Richard Childress Racing in Lexington. Police honors will follow at Forest Hill Memorial Park, where the NCSHP horse-drawn caisson will transport his body to its final resting place. Some say Parde’s noble commitment to service shines light on the dangers officers face in the line of duty.”
LPD says they’re relying on participating in training for diversity, equity and inclusion to move forward toward community relations. In a statement to Davidson Local, Chief of Police Robby Rummage said, “This includes training city leadership has made available, as well as additional training specific to ensuring our department is a professional twenty-first century police force.”
Rummage expounded.
“As we continue ongoing efforts to further focus our law enforcement training priorities, we are actively researching the newest training topics that address many relevant areas. We are taking a stronger approach on training coordination so that training will be increasingly timely, relevant and consistent. We actively partner with other law enforcement agencies and training entities to vet the best possible training we can get. This is an ongoing process.”
Rummage says the department is committed to strengthening community partnerships.
“Fostering trusting relationships between police and the community is paramount to avoiding conflict and for working together through conflict when it does occur. Our department believes in de-escalation first when conflicts arise, which was demonstrated last summer when over 140 days of protests tested our training.”
In the days leading up to the verdict LPD, Thomasville Police Department and Davidson County Sheriff’s Department leadership declined to officially comment on the trial before the outcome.
Davidson County Commissioner (R) and Thomasville Police Department Corporal, James Shores, said he was always prepared to accept the jury’s decision.
“I think what I would want to say that law enforcement is not above reproach,” said Shores. “Although 99 percent of us do our job the way we’re supposed to do, there is a percentage out there that falls through the crack.”
The former Marine who served in the Gulf War and Somalia says the constitution works when applied fairly and impartially.
“The defense gave their side," Shores said. "The prosecution gave their side. It’s our right as Americans to be tried by 12 of their peers that gave him justice. I believe in our constitution.”
Meanwhile, Royal says the community will continue to ask about future preparation of law enforcement and find ways for healing the community after a brutal summer.
Rummage’s statement indicated future collaboration from LPD. “I understand and respect the significance of this day in our nation’s history,” Rummage assured. “I continue to be encouraged by and believe in our Lexington community. LPD remains committed to partnering with our community.”
Law enforcement agencies declining to comment on the verdict before it was rendered didn’t discourage Royal. She said the community can not sit back and relax after the verdict.
“We can breathe again now, but for how long?" Royal considered. “It’s only a matter of time until we are boarding up buildings like other communities. Are we going to be proactive or reactive? The nation was preparing this week. It affects us as a whole. This has affected somebody some way or another. This verdict is just the beginning of the story. We’ve got to start a real conversation.”
