(KNSI) – Jury selection for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s trial is nearly complete, with 14 of the 15 jurors and alternates now seated. One week before opening statements are slated to begin, law enforcement leaders with Operation Safety Net gave an update on trial security and what people in the Twin Cities should expect as the trial progresses.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo says demonstrations and protests at the Hennepin County Government Center plaza and around the Twin Cities have remained peaceful.
“As of today, we have no reports of any arrests related to the trial itself, no reports of any property damage or destruction,” Arradondo said. “We’re just very pleased at those groups who are coming out to demonstrate or assemble are doing so peacefully.”
Security within the government center is also going smoothly, says Chief Deputy Tracey Martin of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
“I’m confident that, together, we can ensure the proceedings continue to take place with little to no disruption,” Martin said.
Additionally, Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington says there are no imminent, credible threats to the court proceedings or the Twin Cities area in general. However, Operation Safety Net officials say as the trial progresses, law enforcement agencies’ presence will increase.
“Right now, the forces from the Minnesota National Guard stand at about 100 personnel, and that will slowly start to increase as the case continues to move on,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Wickman, commander of the Minnesota National Guard 34th Infantry Division. “We’ll continue to adjust our forces and our posture as the trial continues.”
Wickman added that Guard members who are stationed at the government center currently do not have ammunition clips in their rifles, “but if the situation does change,” he said, “the soldiers on the ground are quickly able to change their force posture.”
Harrington affirmed that Twin Cities residents can expect to see an increase in the presence of law enforcement, but the change won’t be dramatic.
“We are basing our operation on information and on intelligence, and at this time, there is no information or intelligence [that] would justify a major increase in our posture,” Harrington said. “We remain ready to respond, and we are committed to preventing bad things from happening.”
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. Opening statements for Chauvin’s trial are set for March 29th. Three other ex-officers are charged with aiding and abetting in Floyd’s death, and they are set to go to trial in August.
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