Correction officials say they were banned from the floor by Derek Chauvin because of their skin color

The prison officer gives his side of the story

Lydon said that on May 29, when he was informed that Chauvin would soon arrive at the jail, he made the decision to transfer some correctional officers to other jobs, according to a statement from the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.

Chauvin, who is white, and other officers knelt on Floyd, a black man, during an arrest in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death and the release of videos of the arrested people sparked protests across the country.

“Realizing that killing George Floyd would likely create particularly acute racial trauma, I felt I had an immediate duty to protect and support employees who may have been traumatized and may have exacerbated the permanent trauma of facing Chauvin,” Lydon said.

“Out of worry and worry, and without the consolation of time, I made the decision to limit the exposure of a color employee to a murder suspect who could exacerbate those feelings.”

Lydon said he changed his mind with the clock.

“Shortly after the decision was made, the correction staff expressed concern about the change and within 45 minutes I realized my mistake and reversed the order,” he said.

“I then met with individuals who were working at the time and explained to them what my thought process was at the time and I reassured them that the decision was made out of concern for them and that it was in no way related to the concerns concerning their professionalism or Chauvin’s safety. ”

“I realized I had made a mistake in my judgment and I apologized to the affected employees.”

In a statement, Officer Attorney Bonnie Smith said the change came too late. “Damage occurred at that point. The shifts were moved and at least one colored police officer assigned to the 5th floor over the weekend was moved to the second floor during Chauvin’s detention in prison.”

According to a statement from the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Lydon’s duties were changed as Sheriff Bill Fletcher reviewed the circumstance to determine if further action was needed.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree murder for his alleged role in Floyd’s death on May 25.

Police officers are seeking compensation for emotional distress

Minnesota Human Rights Communications Director Taylor Putz told CNN that state law does not allow the organization to acquit charges of discrimination or other information related to the case until it is closed.

Furthermore, Putz says the Department has not closed the case on the issue and cannot comment.

Officers in legal action identify as African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific, Islanders, or mixed.

They demand that steps be taken to ensure that discriminatory behavior does not recur at the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center, as well as compensation for their emotional distress and lost earnings, Smith said in a statement.

Smith says one of her clients was stopped in the middle of Chauvin’s reservation and told him she would not transport Chauvin to his unit, Smith said in a statement.

Another officer said color corrective officers responded amid a response to an ambulance call that they would not be allowed to complete an ambulance protocol until white officers arrived, as it was a matter of going to the fifth floor, Smith said.

“The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office separated diligent colored employees away from tall inmates solely because of their skin color,” Smith said in a statement. “Classifying employees according to their race and skin color was deeply humiliating and humiliating, not to mention illegal. These correctional officers come to work every day to keep our community safe, and hiring decisions should be made based on their performance, not the color of their skin. “