Seven Minneapolis police officers have reportedly resigned amid nationwide protests over police brutality and racial inequality sparked by the death of George Floyd, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Insiders at the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) told the outlet that officers are feeling misunderstood and stuck in the middle of protests, the media, a state probe and city leaders after the killing of Floyd in Minneapolis by four officers, who have since been fired and face criminal charges in connection with his death.
Derek Chauvin, the veteran officer who held his knee against Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, has been charged with second degree murder and second degree manslaughter, while the other three cops face charges of aiding and abetting.
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City Spokesman Casper Hill confirmed to the Star Tribune that the seven officers had left the department.
On June 3, Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison upgraded the charges against Chauvin to Second Degree murder for the death of Floyd on and also charged the three other officers involved, J Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane with aiding and abetting murder.
