An image from the Zoom seminar honoring George Floyd hosted by professors John D. Baker and Shawn Williams.
Professors of criminal justice John D. Baker, J.D. and Dr. Shawn Williams pooled together their knowledge, resources, and professional experience for a conversation on the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
With the Our Husky Compact in mind, Baker and Williams focused on what the incident means for students currently studying criminal justice and those entering into a career in law enforcement.
Professor Williams posed the question: What does a good relationship between the community and police look like to you and how can you contribute? Williams wants students to think about their role as peace officers or leaders in the community after graduation.
“I want you to leave St. Cloud knowing what humanity and decency is,” he said.
With over 15 years’ experience as a police officer, Williams was a law enforcement instructor both for Hennepin Technical College and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). At the MPD, he taught both pre-service and in-service officers and reservists.
In law enforcement, use of force is defined as “taking control of an uncontrollable situation.”
Williams cannot explain what happened to George Floyd on Memorial Day — why the officers did (and didn’t do) what they did. He can, however, explain that the most difficult thing for an officer to determine while engaging in use of force is, “why they are using the force they are using at the time they are using it.”
An officer needs to constantly be asking themselves this question as well as “when” and “how” when it comes to use of force.
Baker, a former criminal defense attorney, covered the procedural and substantive legal aspects of the cases against the officers involved. He walked students through the criminal complaints, sequence of events in Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS), lawyers and judges assigned to cases, and the overall criminal procedure.
The criminal justice faculty at St. Cloud State believe it is their job to show students how to work with personal integrity and civic responsibility and to do the right thing when working in the criminal justice system. Baker challenges all students to fully understand the law and their role in the community.
Click here to watch or listen to the discussion.
