Charred ruins of the police station where Derek Chauvin worked remain abandoned two years after George Floyd’s death

THE charred ruins of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct still remain abandoned more than two years after the death of George Floyd.

This is where former MPD police officer Derek Chauvin worked prior to his May 26, 2020 sacking, just a day after Floyd died below his knee.

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Protesters took to the streets, looting stores and setting shops on fire in the days after Floyd’s death. MPD officers in the Third Precinct have been ordered to empty their desks and lockers.

On the night of May 28, 2020, nearly 2,000 people gathered near the building, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey ordered police to evacuate the precinct.

“Death to any of our officers or the general public, that was not a consequence I could have while on watch,” Frey told Fox 9.

The building was set on fire and looted. To this day it is fenced off and boarded up. According to the US Attorney for the County of Minnesota, only four people have been charged in connection with the county fire.

Community members held a meeting and asked residents if they would like to see the Third Precinct rebuilt as a new police station, but 75 percent of neighbors said no.

Neighbors, who turned down the request, said the rebuild would glorify the story of what happened that night.

“That’s such a painful wound over there,” said Ingrid Rasmussen, senior pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

“This building has been completely idle for two years. It is surrounded by barbed wire.”

Rasmussen told WCCO “it’s hard to imagine a way forward” given the “community trauma” that happened at that location.

But Anne Jones, one of the 25 percent who voted to bring police back to the site, argued the building is central to the district and residents need services nearby.

But she said she doesn’t want policing at the precinct to go back to what it used to be.

“I think we could reinstate public safety in this community in a positive and constructive way,” she said.

Neighbors have suggested turning the site into a labor and financial education center, affordable housing, or public land.

According to the City of Minneapolis, plans are still up in the air about what the site will be used for, but they’re hoping to work with the community.

SENTENCED

Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. The period of service was credited to him.

The former police officer spoke to the court shortly before his monumental sentencing.

“At this time, due to some additional legal matters, I am unable to provide a full statement at this time, but I would like very briefly to offer my condolences to the Floyd family,” Chauvin said at the time.

“There will be some other information that may be of interest in the future and I hope things will give you some peace of mind.”

Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, also spoke, telling the judge, “My son is a good man.”

Members of Floyd’s family also spoke in court, including his seven-year-old daughter Gianna, who made a statement in recorded video.

“I miss you and I love you,” she said.

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