$1.5M for Officers Barred from Guarding Derek Chauvin

JUL 8 2022·Updated AUG 13 2022

Story

Image credit: Pool/Reuters [via The Wall Street Journal]

The Facts

A nearly $1.5M settlement has been reached between the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and eight corrections officers who alleged racial discrimination when they were barred from guarding Derek Chauvin in May 2020, as he awaited trial for his involvement in the death of George Floyd.
ABC News
Chauvin, a former Minneapolis Police Officer, has since been convicted for the murder of Floyd, a black man whose death sparked nationwide protests.
Independent
The officers, who identify as African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander American, and multiracial, allege that Steve Lydon, then-Superintendent of the detention center, issued an order prohibiting all officers of color from guarding Chauvin. The order was rescinded about an hour later.
ABC News
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to settle the lawsuit. The settlement requires the county to acknowledge that the order was wrong and discriminatory and issue a written apology to the officers.
USA Today
Lydon was demoted but still works for the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, which runs the jail.
USA Today

Sources Split

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CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

While his actions were insensitive, Steve Lydon only had good intentions: He was trying to protect his employees in the face of the traumatizing and unlawful death of George Floyd, and shield them from Chauvin.

UPI

Narrative B

Lydon's actions were racist and disrespectful. The fact that he remains employed and has only offered a half-hearted apology hidden behind the guise that he was doing the right thing speaks of poor leadership within the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department.