Police Use of Force

Analyzing Use of Force by Police Officers

As former Officer Derek Chauvin stands trial in George Floyd’s death, a central question is whether he followed the Minneapolis Police Department’s guidelines on the use of force _ and used that force reasonably. The department’s longest-tenured officer sharply criticized Chauvin’s actions in testimony Friday, at one point calling Chauvin’s lengthy restraint of Floyd “totally unnecessary.” Lt. Richard Zimmerman laid out a range of actions that officers can take in using force. He joined a retired Minneapolis police sergeant who also testified for the prosecution, as well as use-of-force experts interviewed by The Associated Press, in questioning Chauvin’s actions. USE-OF-FORCE