The city of Minneapolis has reached a settlement agreement to pay $600,000 to Patty Day, a woman who accused former police officer Derek Chauvin of using excessive force against her in January 2020. This settlement reflects ongoing cases related to police misconduct, following Chauvin’s infamous actions months later in the George Floyd case.
Patty Day, previously a worker with the Public Works Department, filed a lawsuit alleging that she was wrongfully arrested and subjected to excessive force. The incident occurred as Day found herself depressed and intoxicated, stuck in snow due to personal hardships on January 17, 2020. Officers Derek Chauvin and Ellen Jensen, responding to the scene, allegedly forcibly removed Day from her vehicle and threw her onto the pavement, resulting in various injuries.
The lawsuit detailed how Chauvin, infamously known for the George Floyd incident, pressed his knee into Day’s back while she was handcuffed and subdued. Subsequently, a DUI charge against Day was dismissed when a judge found the arrest lacked probable cause and suppressed the blood alcohol evidence.
Last Thursday, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the $600,000 settlement. The allocation of the funds will see $175,000 directed to Day, with her attorneys receiving $425,000. Council member LaTrisha Vetaw expressed that the settlement, while not rectifying Day’s experience, holds the officers accountable.
Attorney Katie Bennett, representing Day, emphasized the settlement as an acknowledgment of the necessity for police reform and justice. She stated, ‘While no settlement can undo what Patty endured, we are grateful to have reached an agreement that holds the officers accountable for their actions.’ This case adds to over $36 million paid by Minneapolis in settlements concerning Chauvin, including the significant sum of $27 million to George Floyd’s family.
Derek Chauvin currently serves time in a federal prison for both state and federal convictions related to the murder of George Floyd, an event that spurred a nationwide conversation on racial injustice. The agreement with Patty Day is seen as part of ongoing efforts to address past misconduct and strive towards accountability in policing.
The settlement between Minneapolis and Patty Day highlights continued efforts to address police misconduct and the broader implications of holding officers accountable. While financial settlements cannot erase past wrongs, they underscore the commitment to seeking justice and reform within law enforcement practices.
