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Retired police chief talks of relief after Chauvin guilty verdict

Minutes after a Minneapolis jury found a former police officer, Derek Chauvin, guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd, Chief Fabienne Brooks said, “I have a sense of relief, a sense of hope and answered prayers.”

Brooks served for 26 years in the King County Sheriff’s Office and now works as a consultant connecting community members with police.

“I think this is justice. It’s a first step, though,” Brooks said of the verdict. “The jury actually believed their eyes.”

That is a big change from the 1991 beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police.

That case was also captured on video, but those officers were acquitted.

“We saw what we saw with Mr. King. And yet, the jury found the officers not guilty. We saw what we saw with Mr. Floyd, and the jury also saw it,” she said.

Brooks is grateful for all the people — and cameras — now watching police.

“It shows the truth of what’s been said in the Black community and the people of color community for years,” Brooks added.

Brooks also takes heart knowing that fellow officers testified against Chauvin, calling out excessive force and breaking the blue wall of silence.

“I’m hoping that’s the beginning of officers standing up for what’s right,” she said.