Four Police-Related Deaths and the Importance of Context

It is true that police officers need training on restraining suspects with minimal violence unless violence is necessary. But much criticism of police is unjust and is due to exaggerated and unjust accusations by prejudicial groups.

Floyd was not "killed" by Officer Chauvin. Everything at the trial points to Chauvin going-by-the-book, and the physical evidence & autopsy bears this out.
Floyd was a career criminal, was caught red-handed passing counterfeit money & resisted arrest the whole time. At one point the arresting Officers thought about placing leg irons on him while he continued to resist in the recovery position. Even the Coroner remarked that if they had found Floyd at home, dead, it would be ruled an overdose.

Unfortunately you are wrong on Chauvin, but, you are correct on Potter.

This article I assume was written by someone who never had to control a suspect under the influence of fentanyl, meth , PCP etc. Our Islamist terrorist enemies used it and had to be taken down with head shots - body shots did not even slow them down. I have seen a smaller man under the influence of PCP break both his wrists and cuffs and required being constrained by no less than a half a dozen officers.

The omission of drug influences in the instances where they are know to be present must be weighed. Instead its always glossed over as if they were under the influence of a marijuana plant they grew at home.

Reference Dershowitz's comments on Chauvin murder trial:
The Prosecution does not maintain to the court that Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's neck. As the photographic evidence shows and the Defense agrees, his knee was on his shoulder. The Prosecution states that Chauvin's knee was merely near Floyd's neck. a fact which is plain as day and agreed upon by the Prosecution and Defense. The photographic evidence also clearly shows that Floyd was placed on his stomach with his face, esophagus, and wind pipe to the left side of his body, while Chauvin was on is right side, out of reach to his windpipe. esophagus, and carotid artery.
Whether Chauvin should or should not have had his knee on Floyd's shoulder, is irrelevant. The the trial is to determine if Chauvin murdered Floyd. It is established that if he did so, it seems it was by some mechanism that is not apparent to the court.
Three autopsies have failed to find any physical trauma done to Floyd.

Professor Dershowitz is right as usual. The leaders of the protestors and the leaders of the instigators know this as well. So clearly, what they're for is not justice. So what do they really want?

Seems to me that Chauvin should either be acquitted (preferably) or be found guilty of manslaughter. However, because this is a show trial, with the mob baying for a lynching, neither verdict is likely. He will, in all likelihood, be found guilty of murder. But because this would be such a flawed judgement, it is likely to be dismissed on appeal.

As usual the wisdom of Dershowitz is apparent and so correct. The rule of law, the presentation of all evidence and arguments from both sides, a neutral judge and jury etc must be allowed to operate without fear of intimidation from violent demonstrations.

In my opinion the existing judicial system is not perfect, but its replacement with an untried alternative based on mob rule will be a disaster. Simply believing a new judiciary will be better is not a proof that it will objectively be better.

The "presumption of innocence" in Chauvin's case?
As a British observer, I see the US police as exceptionally trigger-happy, but then this view could also apply to many black criminals.

This has now become the sad state of affairs since last summer in the US when mobs of law breakers BLM Antifa decided to hold mob rule, US a racist country etc etc . This is just how a country becomes a banana republic like Venezuela - defund police cause instability and you are well on the way. I find it pathetic that after the cold blooded murder at the Capitol of Ashli Babbit who was an army veteran that months later we don't even know the name of the law enforcement officer who pulled the trigger. It seems apparent now in the US if you are white and killed by the police it is just brushed off. However if you are Black even if you are a career criminal then you are pictured by the MSM as some kind of poor misguided individual who never stood a chance. One set of rules for one set of people, another set for any one else; this isn't America or justice

"The world is focused on three police-related deaths..." Sure, fair enough, but it is one thing to pass the Bar, and give a perfectly legal summation of the events that took place -- that would be fine in a vacuum, yet, we would have no choice but to agree with the 'perfect' rule of law. Otherwise, it would be chaos upon chaos which wouldn't and never has been the solution for anything.
Nevertheless, realistically, it is easier said than done especially when specified groups of people in the same culture suffer more by meticulously being kept out of the mainstream than seemingly everyone else, not for a few years but several centuries -- and let's not pretend about that fact. They're working on it.
So, somehow time moves on and we try to stay on top of the difficulties of this life and take each situation one at a time -- and hope that the good ones will overcome the bad ones. Yet, how does one deal with the human heart and the common decency aspect, which throughout human history hasn't made much headway?
Theologically, we will never succeed in our own strength -- we need help...as each one has gone his own way...precluding any real unity.

I think Dershowitz has made a good commentary on the situation. Unfortunately some media and politicians are supporting mob rule, the very mob that that has rioted, looted stores, and destroyed property. The mobs and some politicians wish to lynch the police for doing their jobs and cause civil unrest.

Dear Sir,
Thank you for this article. Just one question regarding the 13 year old boy. On tv I could see the boy with his hands up high. Surely the officer must have seen that too? You don't mention this in your article and that surprises me. The impression I do have, is that the officer could have waited with shooting.
Greetings from Holland

And what about Ashli Babbit? an unarmed woman, who should have been arrested for trespassing but was shot dead mercilessly, we all saw this on video! A big cover-up and no charges, not even any information released to identify the shooter. Definitely no demonstrations, no riots, no mainstream-media coverage, and therefore no equal justice under the law for her or her family. Why not? I would propose that's because she was a conservative white person and a Trump supporter. I think the Statue of Liberty lost her blindfold and her copy of the Constitution. Ashli lost her life, but she obviously doesn't matter to those in power. With all due respect to the learned Alan Dershowitz, not even a mention of her death obviously by excessive force? I consider this to be a major omission.
For conservatives and patriots, the USA is gone as far as justice and democracy are concerned. 4 years of Biden/Harris will probably end the USA as the Constitutional Republic forever, I shudder to think what the USA is going to be like in the near future.

Officer Chauvin's actions were only partly connected with handcuffing and subduing Floyd. Minneapolis Police Department training for cases where excited delirium due to drug overdose is involved teach officers to have their knee on the arrestee to keep the person in the "recovery position" until paramedics arrive to provide aid. All the officers acted in accordance with this training. As demonstrated by George Parry (a prosecutor with experience in police misconduct cases), pictures in the MPD training manual exactly match body cam footage of the incident. So the whole "trail" is nothing but cowardly public officials kowtowing to a mob.

Thanks Alan, but I'm afraid the progressive crowd today will not hear any of the obvious truth in your learned explanation of the application of justice, and to use the book title, the madness of crowds.
The city manager a prime example of the effect as you mentioned of crowd madness.
I've seen you many times make these rational explanations, keep 'em coming, they give us some great information to use engaging our friends to enlighten and expose errors. I'm in MA, grew up in Somerville BTW, so know something about bad behavior in citizens and interactions with cops. In the greater majority of cases, the citizen is the problem, as you mentioned.
"If men were angels, we would need no government..."
Thanks much.

Short but good article by a great scholar and contemporary. I'm not a lawyer but my commonsense based on biblical morality tells me this professor is spot-on. The world is in desperate need of people with knowledge, courage and morality.

With infinite respect, Mr. Dershowitz, Emeritus, yes, we acknowledge that All Lives Matter, that White Lives Matter, and Police Lives Matter, but that is not the POINT in this, our mutual American "Experience" and History.

Yes, Justice must be served for BOTH —murdered Blacks and unjustly accused White police.

But do NOT minimize or ignore or fail to focus on the compelling point of the HISTORICAL FAILURE OF THE POLICE INSTITUTION!! —as opposed to the Justice Institution you celebrate, our world-renowned Educational Institution, the Health and Human Services Institution.

Do not fear —the police will receive their "special kind of justice" in the courts again, but Kim Potter's "simple mistake" is HOMICIDAL NEGLIGENCE for a 26-year veteran TRAINING policemen !

Respectfully submitted,
a White American

Does not each case depend on "follow the facts"? "Due process" is not just an empty slogan. Nor is "presumed innocent until proven guilty." We have witnessed an erosion not only in standards of due process and presumption of innocence but MSM and political elite have contributed greatly to the loss of confidence in law enforcement and the rule of law, largely fueled by perceived racial prejudice. Think about the Duke Lacrosse team case. Three guys convicted by everyone in the Duke Community/Faculty/Administration. No one stood for Due Process. Even the DA withheld exculpatory evidence. A similar false narrative was perpetuated by "Rolling Stone Magazine," fueled by the UVA faculty and administration in the frat boys rape fabrication and the "rape culture."

There are so many breaches and failures by those who should be responsible and allow the cognizant authorities to proceed with developing and presenting the facts. We are fast approaching the time when "due process" and"presumption of innocence" will be a hollow bucket.

And that slide will continue unless and until a return to responsible reporting and non-political administrators return. Too bad, but that is a difficult process when the likes of Maxine Waters calls for violence if a certain demanded outcome is not the verdict of the jury evaluating the facts in the context of applicable law. I think that most folks know what needs to be done, but will anyone be willing to stand and protect the real rule of law? I am no longer certain that will ever again be the case.

we have a subculture who values crime and criminals. this extends into the vote which is the reason why we have congressional representation for anarchy. the notion that the police should be removed is based on the absurdity that law and order is a bad thing because it interferes with criminal activities. it is a bizarre and violent confrontation with everything we value. there is nothing to debate. we must protect our society and separate and marginalize those who would destroy this nation. there is nothing to reform. there is everything to enforce.

The extensive analysis yesterday by Andrew Branca on legalinsurrection.com of the charges and evidence in the Floyd case suggests that there is ample basis to rebut the implication in Professor Dershowitz's first sentence attributing Floyd's death to the accused officer.

Regarding Maxine Waters' inflammatory contribution to the reasoned debate on the streets of Minneapolis, Branca notes that Chauvin has not been charged with any offense that includes an intent on his part to kill Floyd. This will come as a shock to people who have relied on coverage from the major media sources. Both they and Waters have edited and re-punctuated the biblical command cited by Dershowitz: Justice? Justice? Hell no! Pursue!

Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's shoulder. Floyd could move his head. If Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's neck, he would not be able to move his head. You cannot move your neck if it is suppressed. I don't believe how insane this whole business with Chauvin has become to cover up for Floyd's behavior and FEAR OF RIOTING by the most IGNORANT OF SOCIETY.