CHICAGO (AP) — A federal trial against three former Minneapolis police officers seeks to hold them responsible for not stopping George Floyd’s murder.
The men face a rarely used charge accusing them of violating Floyd’s civil rights. Legal experts hope the case also can change the long-standing police culture that breeds reluctance to rein in fellow officers.
Floyd’s killing prompted many police departments to adopt policies requiring officers to intervene if a co-worker puts someone in danger.
Experts say federal charges, in this case, send a strong message that failing to do so means consequences severe enough to outweigh fears of being ostracized or even put in danger by fellow officers for stopping and reporting misconduct.
