Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard has decided to hold off on suing the City of Minneapolis for expenses incurred for additional security in the wake of the death of George Floyd, caused when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin last month knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes following an arrest.
Protests against police have erupted throughout the nation, with some turning violent, including in Indianapolis over the weekend.
Brainard announced the change in direction four hours after announcing the city’s intention to sue.
“I still feel that the Minneapolis Police Dept. was recklessly negligent, given the officer’s disciplinary history, in allowing him to remain in uniform patrolling the streets of Minneapolis,” Brainard stated. “My intent was to send a message that their negligence cost many lives and millions in property damage across the country. America has a long history of correcting behavior though the legal system and I felt this would be another opportunity to do so. This is not about inflicting more pain to the good people of Minneapolis. It is about sending a message to its leaders and to leaders across the U.S. that we will no longer tolerate the violence and damage that results from their inability or unwillingness to treat all people with respect.”
