They were judged for their passivity during the drama. Two police officers from Minnesota (United States) were sentenced to prison terms by the American federal justice, Wednesday, July 27, for their attitude during the death of George Floyd. This 46-year-old black man had suffocated due to pressure on his neck from the knee of another police officer, Derek Chauvin, during his arrest in Minneapolis in 2020. The scene, filmed, had aroused worldwide emotion and important demonstrations against racism and police violence.
Alexander Kueng, 28, and Tou Thao, 36, were convicted of “civil rights violations” against George Floyd in February, along with a third police officer, Thomas Lane. But their sentences had not yet been pronounced.
Tou Thao was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, and Alexander Kueng to three years. The previous week, Thomas Lane had been sentenced to two and a half years. Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
A parallel procedure before the justice of Minnesota
At the time, Tou Thao had kept passers-by at a distance, while Alexander Kueng helped hold George Floyd to the ground, including placing his knee on the victim’s back. Thomas Lane, who was holding his legs, was the only one who suggested placing George Floyd on his side and tried to resuscitate him when help arrived.
The judge justified the slightly heavier sentence imposed on Tou Thao by his greater experience in the police, where he had worked since 2008, while Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were two new recruits. Partner of Derek Chauvin, he also arrived earlier on the scene than his two colleagues.
In parallel with the prosecution by federal justice, Minnesota state justice sentenced Derek Chauvin for murder to 22 and a half years in prison, and charged his three colleagues with “complicity in murder”. Thomas Lane has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing, which he could serve concurrently with the federal sentence. The trial of the other two agents is to be held in the fall.
