Genesee County + Michigan Officials Respond To Derek Chauvin Guilty Verdict

The nation was watching as Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of George Floyd.

The case has been at the center of the news cycle since video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd while he died enraged people across the country. The jury only took two days to come to a unanimous decision on all three murder charges. Shortly after the verdict, officials from Michigan weighted in on what it meant going forward.

Get our free mobile app

Governor Whitmer reacts To Derek Chauvin guilty verdict

Lt Governor Garlin Gilchrist reacts to Derek Chauvin guilty verdict

Genesee County Sheriff Swanson reacts to Derek Chauvin guilty verdict

BLM Flint President DeWuan Robinson reacts to Derek Chauvin guilty verdict

The overall reaction from officials, and most of the people I've talked to ring true to the statements above.

I think collectively most people are in agreement that Chauvin was guilty, and that the jury got it right. Everyone from police officers to elected officials spoke out after the verdict to say that justice was properly served.

Where do we go from here?

The biggest question I have is what happens now? One guilty verdict is not enough to fix the problems exposed during the summer of civil unrest, but it is a step in the right direction.

There are numerous police reform bills in legislation at the state and federal level right now, but I don't think legislation is going to get the job done. I believe that if Police departments want to make this a step toward fixing damaged relationships, they have to look inward. Police need to be more willing to point out the bad apples BEFORE they can spoil the bunch. Think about how different this story would be if even one of the three officers on the scene of George Floyd's murder would have stepped in to tell Chauvin to back off.

If you are looking for an example of what a police department can do to rewrite the narrative, look no further than right here in Genesee County. From the beginning, Sheriff Swanson and his team have done everything to be a part of the community, not control it. This has turned into multiple positive programs that were developed with the help of new partnerships.

Right now Flint and Genesee County are the shining example of how to move forward, and we should all be proud of that.