George Floyd: Was It Murder? ‘What Happened is Different Than What Most People Think.’
/By: Lt. Patrick J. Ciser (ret.)
What happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of his arresting officer should never have happened. But what did happen is different than what most people think. It appeared to many that Officer Derek Chauvin displayed malice toward Mr. Floyd, and even made it seem personal; but did he? Chauvin knelt on the side of Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds as he lay on the ground. One or two days later, we found out that Floyd and Chauvin knew each other from working security at an area restaurant/club. Floyd worked inside, while Chauvin worked outside, and only time will tell if there was any friction between the men prior to Floyd’s arrest.
As I watched the viral video, it initially appeared to me that perhaps Chauvin was “teaching Floyd a lesson,” due to the duration of the event. So I watched the video a few times more in an effort to understand what the officer was doing exactly, and what concerns he may have had about the suspect. Understand that Floyd was a very large man at 6’7” and must have weighed 280 lbs. or more. His sheer size, coupled with the fact that Chauvin knew him and may have known about his violent past and criminal history, could explain why Chauvin had no interest in letting him up until the ambulance arrived.
We’ve all been taught that a knee on the side of a suspect’s neck will ensure that the suspect will not be able to stand and become combative. According to media reports, Floyd initially resisted officers’ efforts to put him in the back of the squad car, as he reportedly claimed that he was claustrophobic and couldn’t breathe. This, while standing and under little duress. Floyd, an ex-con, was also found to be under the influence of narcotics, as per the state autopsy report, which may have affected his state of mind.
Being a retired cop and teaching martial arts my entire life, I do not believe that it ever occurred to Officer Chauvin that his actions would lead to the death of Mr. Floyd. The biggest reason is because he knew he was being recorded on a witness’ cellphone.The other reason is that it is unlikely that a knee on the side of somebody’s neck would kill them, which can easily be demonstrated by two volunteers in a court of law. Many of us have used this technique to control a suspect, but usually not for an extended period of time.
What was disturbing about his actions, however, was that he didn’t react to George Floyd’s plea that he couldn’t breathe while also calling “Mama,” which was definitely a sign that he was in distress. So many LEO’s across the country would’ve at that point, had we been there, told Chauvin to ease up on the knee. So why didn’t the three officers there intercede? Were they a bit fearful of the 19-year veteran, or the very large suspect? Mr. Floyd died of a heart attack, the state autopsy concluded, while ruling out asphyxiation. Also, I’m still not convinced that there was a racial element involved unless we see some real evidence that I’m not aware of at trial. Problem is, Chauvin already has been tried and convicted by the media, and 90% of America. Ever want to knock out an asshole, or an unruly criminal? Doesn’t really matter what race they are, you just wanna knock ‘em out (although we usually don’t). Interesting that when a black cop kills a white guy, no one ever yells RACISM! And let’s not forget that more whites are killed by cops in America than blacks are, and that’s with 47-50% of the crimes being committed by blacks. Floyd did five years for a home invasion, where he pressed a gun into a pregnant woman’s stomach while demanding drugs and money. Chauvin may have “had Floyd’s number” and had good reason not to like or trust the guy. As a result, maybe he wasn’t taking any chances letting him up, especially if the very large George Floyd seemed agitated. We all know that if we’re dealing with an EDP (Emotionally Disturbed Person), protocol dictates that we try to keep them calm until the ambulance or mental health experts arrive.
As far as the riots are concerned, weak politicians do us all a disservice and never learn lessons from the past, including the Ferguson and Dallas riots, when they don’t allow us to do our jobs. What’s happening here, however, is on a much larger scale that we haven’t seen since 1968. Cities are burning all across America, and protests are taking place overseas; but why? It’s because Black Lives Matter, Antifa (antifascists that are actually fascists), and other Marxist groups, were waiting for just a moment like this to join forces. They grew strong during the Obama years, and with frustration over the COVID-19 lockdowns, along with “Trump Derangement Syndrome” these probably were contributing factors in stoking the flames.
The planning of these attacks across the country seemed to be more coordinated than we’ve seen in the past, including pallets of bricks being delivered to many downtown areas in our cities. Trucks were seen, and recorded, pulling up with pre-made protest signs and shields as well. In a protest, you hold a sign; in a riot, you throw a brick, bottle, or even a Molotov cocktail. Antifa, made up of mostly “progressive” white guys and gals, only want to cause anarchy and bring down capitalist America, they don’t give a shit about George Floyd. They used his death as the “spark” needed for civil disobedience and destruction. Reminds me of the Weather Underground of the ‘70s, setting off bombs in major cities.
Cops can’t win the war of words or facts while the liberal media and Democrat politicians are so incredibly biased against us. If they were honest, they could simply put up stats and case studies proving what an outstanding job police officers are doing every day under incredible stress. It seems that they dwell on sensationalism at our expense. The truth is, cops of all races in our inner cities have been saving black youths for years, and in most cases, from other blacks. Stay strong Brothers and Sisters, as we all need each other today more than ever. Oh, and stop kneeling already!!
