Police departments across North Texas are preparing for demonstrations, no matter which way the Derek Chauvin verdict goes according to a former Fort Worth police chief.
“With a full conviction, or partial conviction, getting one of those murder/manslaughter charges, that will generate some celebratory marches.” said Jeff Halstead, who is now a consultant for police issues. “These are not violent in nature, they are simply celebrating their desires were accomplished.”
The other outcomes are an acquittal or hung jury.
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“That is going to be an extremely horrific protest and marches in, probably, every major city in the U.S.”
Dallas police have been planning for demonstrations since the beginning of the jury selection process, sources tell KRLD news.
Departments in medium size cities also have to be on high alert, according to Halstead.
“You can a 300, 400, 500 person march in an very small community, which will absolutely devastate that police department. They don’t have enough resources to manage those marches. So they are going to have to lean on each other for support.” Halstead said.
Last summer a first wave of demonstrations turned violent in the Central Business and Deep Ellum areas of Dallas. At one stage, protesters were trapped by police on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge where there were mass arrests. Charges were later dropped by the Dallas County District Attorney’s office.
Other demonstrations were largely peaceful as protesters held rallies outside the Jack Evans Police Headquarters, Dallas City Hall and in streets in downtown Dallas.
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Chauvin is on trial for 2nd-degree murder, 3rd-degree murder and 2nd-degree manslaughter in Hennepin County, MN for the death of George Floyd. Closing arguments began this morning. The jury will have a wide berth to conduct deliberations. If there is a guilty verdict on any of the charges, the sentencing will not happen immediately.
Unlike Texas, Minnesota law puts the burden of sentencing on the trial judge, who will order a presentence investigation and set the sentencing for a later date.
While some businesses in the Central District and Deep Ellum boarded up windows last year, to date there have not been any preemptive measures that police are aware of.
For his part, Halstead says he has canceled all travel plans to other cities until he knows what the verdict is and how the country is responding.