They were condemned for their passivity during the drama. Two police officers from Minnesota (USA) were sentenced to prison terms by the American federal judiciary on Wednesday, July 27, for their conduct in the death of George Floyd. This 46-year-old black man had suffocated during his 2020 arrest in Minneapolis due to pressure on his neck from the knee of another police officer, Derek Chauvin. The scene that was filmed sparked worldwide emotions and important demonstrations against racism and police violence.
Alexander Kueng, 28, and Tou Thao, 36, along with a third police officer, Thomas Lane, were convicted of “civil rights abuses” against George Floyd in February. But their verdicts had not yet been pronounced.
Tou Thao was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, Alexander Kueng to three years. Thomas Lane was sentenced to two and a half years last week. Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
At the time, Tou Thao had been keeping passers-by at a distance while Alexander Kueng helped keep George Floyd on the ground, including his knee on the victim’s back. Thomas Lane, holding his legs, was the only one who suggested putting George Floyd on his side and trying to revive him when help arrived.
The judge justified Tou Thao’s slightly harsher sentence with his greater experience in the police force, where he had worked since 2008, while Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were two new recruits. Partner of Derek Chauvin, he also arrived on the scene earlier than either of his colleagues.
In parallel with the federal prosecution, the Minnesota judiciary sentenced Derek Chauvin to 22.5 years in prison for murder and charged his three colleagues with “complicity in the 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 scheduled to take place in the fall.