Today, a jury of his peers found former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while he was in police custody in Minneapolis. 

For the past year, and during the trial that started on March 29, the nation and the law enforcement community have been unsettled. A new introspection has taken place within the public safety profession. Today’s decision by the jury was swift and decisive. The Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association (LAAPOA) hopes Mr. Floyd’s family will find some peace in the verdict and that our country can learn from this devastation and turn a page to a better place. 

“George Floyd’s death was a sad day for us all. On behalf of the union representing the peace officers of the Los Angeles Airport Police Department, I can attest to the commitment my Board of Directors and I have in weeding out bad and reckless officers and offering support for any efforts that legitimately support doing so,” LAAPOA President Marshall McClain says. “Commonsense changes need to be made, such as instituting a national use-of-force standard and institutionalizing within our training and daily patrols the importance of stepping in to stop a situation from escalating when it does not need to. Every life matters. We know that. Our membership is made up of people of all colors and walks of life, just like the communities we serve, and most law enforcement officers live up to our oath every day, without exception.

“While our hearts are heavy on this day and every day since the tragedy almost a year ago, we must move forward and continue to protect and do our utmost in reflecting the unwavering commitment and compassion and reverence for all life, which is why we were called to take the oath to begin with,” McClain continues. “We have an opportunity in these times of heightened tensions to come alongside one another and rebuild our communities in a manner that reflects the best of all of us.”