Q&A with former police officer about tension in America after George Floyd's death - Part 1

Dr. David Thomas is a Forensic Studies professor who was a police officer for 20 years.

He is also black, so he offers a unique perspective as to what our country is seeing after the death of George Floyd.

OF FIRST STREET AND MONROESTREET.:00-:14:37-:451:53-2:02(LISA LL INTRO)THIS MORNING, WE’RE TAKING ADEEPER LOOK AT THE DISCUSSION OFRACISM IN POLICING.

DR. DAVIDTHOMAS OFFERS A UNIQUEPERSPECTIVE ON THIS SUBJECT, ASBOTH AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN ANDA POLICE OFFICER OF 20 YEARS.NOW HE TEACHES FORENSIC STUDIESAT F-G-C-U.(VO)I SPENT AN HOUR TALKING TO DR.THOMAS ABOUT THIS.YOU MAY HAVE SEEN MY POST ONFACEBOOK ASKING FOR *YOURQUESTIONS FOR HIM.

SO THISMORNING, I’M SHARING PARTS OFTHAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU.LISA "how long were you apolice officer?"THOMAS "I worked for 20 years,"LISA "and you never saw anythinglike that before?"THOMAS "Nope.

I looked at thewhole eight minute video and Ihave never seen anything likethat in my entire life.

Um, andthere have been instances wherelaw enforcement they’ve chokedpeople or, you know, people willbe able to can’t breathe andthey die.

And I get it.

But thiswas so long and agonizing."LISA "what are your thoughts,seeing what’s happening in ourcountry right now and the caseof George Floyd?"THOMAS "I’ve been asked, ’Is itmurder?’ There is no doubt aboutit.

It was murder.

Because thatthat should not have happened.it should have never happened.What makes it worse is it wasvideotaped, and the whole worldcould see it.

Minoritycommunities have been screamingfor years that this has gone onin our community.

And now thatyou see the video, it givesvalidity to what has transpiredand what has happened.

When youlook at Chauvin, and you see himjust kind of sitting there withhis hands in his pocket, justjust looking.

The thing thatbothers me is I have to believethat that is a norm because hedid it with such impunity.because if it wasn’t somebodywould If corrected him.

They’vebeen allowed to do certainthings historically or in thatin that organization, andnobody’s ever questioned them,because nobody that I can thinkof in their right mind would sitthere and just be as satisfiedwith that, and not try to doanything to help another humanbeing.

Every officer that’s atthat scene has a responsibilitybecause they have care andcustody of that individual.

Theybasically own that person oncethey take them into custody, andthey fail to do their job."(LL TAG)AND COMING UP LATER THISMORNING, I’M ASKING DR. THOMASHOW BIG OF AN ISSUE HE T