POLICE SUCK, and these are only a SMALL fraction of cases, but there are always other cops who knew.

These examples highlight various issues, such as corruption, excessive force, and misconduct, and illustrate the broader challenges faced in policing.

Derek Chauvin: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged with the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes during an arrest, which was captured on video and led to widespread protests against police brutality. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in April 2021 and was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.

Brett Hankison: Former Louisville Metro Police officer Brett Hankison was involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in March 2020. Although Hankison wasn’t charged with Taylor’s death, he was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment for endangering Taylor’s neighbors by firing his gun carelessly. Hankison was acquitted of all charges related to the endangerment in March 2022.

Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove: These former Louisville officers were also involved in the Breonna Taylor shooting. Despite public outrage, they were not directly charged in Taylor’s death but faced dismissals and civil settlements. Without criminal charges, they faced civil consequences, including Taylor’s family receiving a substantial settlement and reforms in police practices.

Kim Potter: Potter, a Brooklyn Center, Minnesota police officer, mistakenly discharged her gun, killing Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in April 2021, claiming she meant to draw her taser. Potter was convicted in December 2021 of first- and second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Eric Smith: Smith, a former Lawrence Police Department officer in Indiana, was charged with official misconduct after being found illicitly collecting evidence to cover unethical practices and use of excessive force during arrests. The details of the outcome were proceeding through court systems, with disciplinary actions initiated.

Anthony Camacho and Lt. Mark Metcalf: These San Francisco Bay Area officers were arrested on charges related to a police corruption scandal involving bribery and falsifying evidence to manipulate cases and aid certain attorneys. Legal processes are underway, evidencing intricate networks of misconduct within the department.

These examples reflect ongoing challenges with officer accountability and public trust in law enforcement. Each case underscores the necessity for rigorous oversight, reforms, and the importance of transparency to restore and maintain community confidence in policing. These cases also emphasize the circumstances that justify oversight commissions and civilian review boards to scrutinize police conduct, shedding light on reforms to address systemic issues.