A Minneapolis police lieutenant who’s been with the department since 1985 and currently leads the homicide unit testifies for the state Friday in the Derek Chauvin murder trial that a knee on the neck is a lethal use of force and that in this case, it was “totally unnecessary.”
Lt. Richard Zimmerman said the action is in the “highest tier” of use of force per Minneapolis Police Department policy because “if your knee is on a person’s neck, it can kill them.”
Zimmerman testified that the amount of time Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck was “uncalled for” and that he saw no reason why officers felt they were in danger. Defense attorney Eric Nelson pointed to the threat of the crowd, but Zimmerman on redirect agreed that holding for EMS response does not excuse officers from providing care.
“It doesn’t matter the crowd as long as they’re not attacking you,” Zimmerman said. “The crowd shouldn’t have an effect on your actions.”
Zimmerman also testified that a person handcuffed behind their back and in the prone position can have their breathing restricted. He said the “safety” and “wellbeing” of a person who is handcuffed becomes the officer’s responsibility.
He added that the risk of injury goes down significantly when a person is cuffed behind their backs even if they are combative.
Zimmerman was one of 14 MPD officers who signed their name to a letter last summer condemning Chauvin’s actions.
According to the pool reporter Friday, prosecutor Steve Schleicher was asked when MPD Chief Medaria Arradondo would testify. Schleicher would not confirm, adding there was originally going to be a third witness Friday but they were not called before the weekend.
