Has Policing Changed Since George Floyd’s Murder?

Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, there were calls for sweeping police reform across the U.S. Floyd’s murder sparked the largest racial justice protests since the Civil Rights Movement — and ignited long overdue conversations about police violence and the racist roots of our criminal (in)justice system. 

Many states changed their use of force standards in the aftermath, with bans on chokeholds and neck restraints. Several states also established the duty for  police officers to inter­vene in cases of excess­ive or illegal force. 

There was also some accountability in the justice system. Derek Chauvin — the former police officer who murdered Floyd — was found guilty, marking a significant moment in the quest for justice. 

Now, the three other cops involved in Floyd’s death face trial. Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao are accused of violating Floyd’s constitutional rights by not intervening when Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes. 

While we await that verdict, there have been developments in other high-profile cases of police-involved killings. Last week, Kim Potter — the former Minneapolis police officer who killed Daunte Wright — was sentenced to two years in prison. Potter fatally shot Wright during a routine traffic stop. Her sentence was far less than the standard manslaughter sentence of seven years. Judge Regina Chu defended the sentencing, saying Potter was quote a "cop who made a tragic mistake," not one who committed murder as in the Chauvin case. 

Even still, instances of police violence against Black bodies continue. At the beginning of February, Minneapolis police officers entered an apartment building under a no-knock warrant and seconds later shot and killed Amir Locke. Locke, who is Black, was not named on the warrant. The incident is under review and the officer involved in the shooting is on administrative leave.

So how much has policing actually changed since Floyd’s death? Are we seeing any real oversight? And what are the challenges of making lasting change in policing? 

For that and more, The Takeaway spoke to Tracey Meares,  professor at Yale Law School and a founding director of the Justice Collaboratory, and Nia T. Evans, writer, researcher, and fellow at the Boston Review.