June 2020 Blues Issue Vol 36 No 6

All four former officers involved
in George Floyd’s death now
HOW STUPID IS THIS?
City of Dallas Removes Ranger Monument
By Rex Evans
face charges of murder
At approximately 08:00 on June
4, 2020, the City of Dallas removed
the Texas Ranger monument from
the entry way of Dallas Love Field.
The former Minneapolis Police
The epitome of law enforcement,
officer who pressed his knee into
professionalism, and the State of
George Floyd’s neck was charged
Texas itself, the Texas Rangers are
on Wednesday with a new, more
highly regarded as one of the finest
serious count of second-degree
Law Enforcement Organizations in
murder, and the three other officers
the world, by far.
on scene during his killing
Thus, to me, both personally and
were charged with aiding and
professionally, I cannot even begin
abetting second-degree murder.
to comprehend this kind of “logic”.
Yes, there’s a mighty rough history
back there in our History Books.
“I strongly believe that these
developments are in the interest
However, I’d simply refer to this
of justice for Mr. Floyd, his family,
profound fact;
our community and our state,”
It was mighty rough times. And
Minnesota Attorney General Keith
the Texas Rangers were the only of the best men in the business.
following;
Ellison said in announcing the
rough men around, who had the And, each of those men wore the “Son, no matter how wrong some
charges.
der Kueng, who helped restrain mined that he died by homicide.
intestinal fortitude, tenacity, dedication
and integrity to bring those
Ranger Star.”
be, don’t you ever sell out your
infamous “Mexican Peso, Texas folks may be, hell, everyone may
The announcement came more Floyd, and Tou Thao, who stood Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria
than a week after Floyd was near the others, were not initially Arradondo fired the four officers
who were lawless to Justice. Each and every Texas Ranger I integrity. You just keep on doing
killed while in police custody in charged. Lane, 37, Kueng, 26, and and said they were “complicit” in
Inevitably, the Texas Ranger have met, in one way or another,
what’s right...”
Minneapolis, sparking nationwide Thao, 34, are now charged with Floyd’s death, and Floyd’s family
brought about a semblance of shared a wealth of knowledge, I’ll never forget those times, the
protests that call for the end to aiding and abetting second-degree
and protesters nationwide have
order, peace and calm for all those friendship and dedication to duty men, the lessons and especially Mr.
murder and aiding and called for them to be arrested
who came to settle here in Tex-
with me, as we worked tirelessly Manning. All of which combined,
police violence against black
citizens.
abetting second-degree manslaughter.
According to the video and
Earth, Home.
and difficult cases.
Far from perfect as I may be, I can
and convicted for the killing.
as and this very special place on together to solve some very tragic led me to be the man I am today.
Derek Chauvin, who pressed his
knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly
nine minutes, had previously aiding and abetting second-de-
kept his knee on Floyd’s neck as
Second-degree murder and the criminal complaint, Chauvin
I was privileged enough to spend My heart truly breaks for the attest I’ve done my job to the best
a great deal of my youth with the nearly overwhelming wave of of my ability, just like the Rangers,
Rangers of Co. A, and in particular, “Anti-Law Enforcement” we are all had taught and instilled, within me.
been charged with third-degree gree murder are punishable by Floyd pleaded that he could not
Texas Ranger Henry Manning. subject to and facing. True enough, I don’t know what else to say.
murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The new second-deslaughter
and aiding and abetting that he was dying, and even as
up to 40 years in prison. Man-
breathe, as witnesses protested
The man helped instill a deep some awful decisions and acts Our profession, though an honorable
one, is truly under the thun-
sense of duty, respect, patience and have been made by some wearing
gree murder charge says that he manslaughter are punishable by Lane twice asked to turn him
tenacity to always find not just “a
a badge.
derstorm of a very difficult and
killed Floyd “without intent” in up to 10 years in prison.
onto his side. Still, Chauvin kept
way”, but to always find the “right And yet, all of my hurt and dismay
can only be tempered by the “Yet, mind you. I’m not done.
lonely time...
the course of committing assault George Floyd died while in police
custody on May 25 in Minne-
three minutes after Floyd be-
In my career, I have met, worked, memories I have, all those years Because, the job ain’t done...”
his knee in position for almost
way.”
in the third degree, according to
an amended complaint.
apolis, Minnesota.
came unresponsive, the complaint
froze and burned up under the ago. With one such memory being,
Mr. Frank Hammer,
Thomas Lane and J. Alexan-
Two autopsies on Floyd deter-
states.
scorching hot Texas sun with some Mr. Manning explaining to me the
Texas Ranger
62 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 63