Minnesota Police Trainer Testifies on Use-of-Force Tactics Taught to Derek Chauvin
Published Date: 4/6/2021
Source: Bloomberg Quicktake: Now
Four years before George Floyd's death, Officer Derek Chauvin took a 40-hour course on crisis intervention that included training on how to recognize people in crisis and how to use de-escalation techniques to calm them down, the jury at Chauvin's murder trial was told Tuesday. Records also show that Chauvin took in-service training in use of force in October 2018. Lt. Johnny Mercil, a use of force trainer for the department and one of the instructors in that class, said attendees were taught that sanctity of life and protection of the public is the cornerstone of the agency's use of force policy. He also said class attendees were taught that restraint is considered force, and officers must use the lowest level of force required to gain compliance. Mercil said officers are trained in how to properly apply neck restraints to get control of a suspect, by using their arms on the side of a person's neck to slow blood flow to and from the brain, and officers are caught a couple different techniques. When asked if the restraint can also be done with the leg, Mercil said incoming officers in the academy may be shown a video of what a restraint like that looks like, but it's not something that is taught to officers who are undergoing in-service training. Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter in Floyd's death May 25. The 46-year-old Black man was pinned to the pavement outside a neighborhood market after being accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill for a pack of cigarettes. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world. To watch complete coverage on Bloomberg Quicktake 24/7, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/qt/live, or watch on Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Fire TV and Android TV on the Bloomberg app. Have a story to tell? Fill out this survey for a chance to have it featured on Bloomberg Quicktake: https://cor.us/surveys/27AF30 Connect with us on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Bloomberg Breaking News on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BloombergQuickTakeNews Twitter: https://twitter.com/quicktake Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quicktake Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quicktake