Assistant Chief Accused Of Perjury In Chauvin Case By Fellow Officers

A group of 14 Minneapolis police officers has accused Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell of giving false testimony during Derek Chauvin’s trial. The officers allege that Blackwell falsely claimed the knee-to-neck restraint Chauvin used on George Floyd was not part of police training.

In sworn declarations, the officers stated that the restraint was part of the department’s maximal-restraint technique (MRT), which was taught and authorized until 2023. The technique, they said, was well known and frequently used by MPD officers.

The declarations were filed as part of a defamation lawsuit brought by Blackwell against Alpha News. The lawsuit followed the release of a documentary that suggested Blackwell’s trial testimony was dishonest. Attorneys for Alpha News included the officers’ statements as evidence to support their reporting.

Former officer Ken Tidgwell described the MRT as a common method taught to control resisting suspects. He said officers were trained to use their knee to restrain a suspect’s head and upper body during handcuffing. “Every MPD officer knows this was part of training,” Tidgwell asserted.

Chauvin’s appeal of his conviction in Floyd’s death is ongoing. His legal team has argued that Floyd’s drug use and underlying health conditions may have contributed to his death. A federal judge recently allowed them to access additional medical evidence as part of their case.

This latest development adds to the ongoing scrutiny of police practices and training, particularly in high-profile cases like Floyd’s death.

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