A former Minneapolis police officer is concerned about the future following Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict.
Chauvin was this week found guilty of murder and manslaughter charges for the killing of George Floyd in May last year.
The most serious charge, second-degree unintentional murder, carries a maximum penalty of up to 40 years behind bars.
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The guilty verdict has been praised by many across America as a step towards holding police officers accountable for deaths that happen during custody.
However, one former officer is scared it will set a precedent. The ex-cop, who spoke to Insider under the condition of anonymity, said he and other officers are concerned.
"It's the new trend now. They're sending cops to prison," he said.
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"The whole thing is a tragedy. George Floyd dying is a tragedy for sure. What happened to Chauvin's family and his wife is horrible.
"The whole thing is just sad. It's really upsetting to me. It's a lose-lose deal for everybody."
He reckons Chauvin shouldn't have been found guilty and believes the jury made a mistake. He reckons the 10-hour deliberation was way too fast but admits it was highly likely Chauvin was going to be a 'sacrificial lamb'.
The near three-decade veteran cop, after speaking with loads of his colleagues, also reckons 'Derek didn't stand a chance at a fair trial'.
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"The jury got it wrong, I believe. But you gotta respect their decision," the former officer said.
However, it's since been revealed Chauvin had a checkered history while working under the badge.
The former cop has 18 previous grievances on his record since joining the force in 2001, according to police figures provided to CNN.
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Many of his complaints resulted in either no disciplinary action or a reprimand. It is reported that Chauvin had been involved in three officer-involved shootings.
Mylan Masson, a retired Minneapolis Park police officer spoke to NBC News and explained that the amount of grievances against Chauvin in his 19 years on the police force is 'a little bit higher than normal'.
Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd for nine minutes and 25 seconds in May last year, despite Mr Floyd's repeated claims that he couldn't breathe.
The cop was found guilty of second degree unintentional murder, third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter on Tuesday (20 April).
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The verdict handed down unanimously by the jury in Chauvin's trial is a landmark case for many reasons, but specifically because it represents the first time that a white police officer has been convicted of murdering a black citizen in the state of Minnesota.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: News, George Floyd