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Hello Ward 11,
On April 13th, 2023, the Mayor and City Council unanimously approved settlements in the two litigation matters of Pope v. Chauvin, et al. and Code v. Chauvin, et al. As the plaintiffs in both litigation matters alleged, former Officer Derek Chauvin – without question – used excessive force against them.
The excessive force used by former Officer Derek Chauvin, and the lack of intervention to stop the use of excessive force by all other officers involved, was horrifying. To be quite honest, I am having a hard time finding words to describe how deplorable I find the actions of former Officer Derek Chauvin, and all other officers involved.
I would like to express my deepest apologies to both Mr. Pope and Mrs. Code for the actions of former Officer Derek Chauvin, for the lack of intervention of all other officers involved, and for the trauma that this caused. And, I would like to express my deepest apologies to all for the racial discrimination in policing in the City of Minneapolis which is at the core of these litigation matters and others.
I’d like to echo the words of our new Chief of Police, Brian O’Hara…
“Today is not a day for excuses or for attempts at justification… We are dealing with the ugly consequences stemming from a systemic failure within the Minneapolis Police Department that allowed for, and even at times encouraged, unjust and brutal policing… The Minneapolis Police Department failed not only Mr. Pope and Mrs. Code, but through this failure we put everyone who would later come into contact with this former officer at risk.”
“To be clear, I will have zero tolerance for any conduct by our officers that dehumanizes or brutalizes anyone, regardless of who they are or what they may be accused of doing; and I will have zero tolerance for any conduct by our officers that provides cover for any such despicable behavior.”
As I’ve said before, it’s our responsibility to change the culture, and to make sure that the racial discrimination that has plagued the City of Minneapolis ends with us.
To read the City of Minneapolis’s news release “City reaches settlement agreements in two separate civil lawsuits filed by John Pope, Zoya Code in use of force cases involving former MPD officer Derek Chauvin”, click here.
To read the Chief of Police, Brian O’Hara’s statement, click here.
Thank You,
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