Beverly Hills Calm As Chauvin Verdict Announced

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — In the wake of a historic decision, Beverly Hills remains cautious and closed down. Stores around the Business Triangle are boarded up with plywood, and cement k-rails have been placed around Rodeo Drive to enable law enforcement to quickly close down streets if necessary, according to a report from Fox 11 Los Angeles. Twitter eyewitnesses have reported that statues, monuments and artwork around Beverly Gardens Park is also fenced off.

Beverly Gardens Park, Beverly Hills:

BH fenced off statues, monuments and artwork at the park. I assume this is in preparation for riots. pic.twitter.com/iUam4eoqwl
— Film The Police LA (@FilmThePoliceLA) April 20, 2021

Since Chauvin was convicted, cities are likely to see celebrations rather than large-scale protests or riots reminiscent of 2020 or 1992. As of 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, no activity has been reported in Beverly Hills, but celebrations have been breaking out in major cities all over the country. A group of Southland faith leaders have gathered at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles for a rally.

Beverly Hills has not released an official statement, nor has the BHPD. The department’s most recent statement was to post a link to the Fox 11 segment on the city’s security preparations, and a reminder that people can receive phone alerts by texting BEVHILLS to 888-777 and BEVHILLSPD to 888-777. The general hotline can be reached until 6 p.m. at 310-550-4680.

Last Friday, Chief Dominick Rivetti released a video urging peaceful protests and confirming that the city was preparing for possible riots. The department is likely on even higher alert after a bomb scare late Monday that caused a partial evacuation of police headquarters.

"With the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin nearing its conclusion, and the potential of increased demonstrations and protest activity across the country, the city of Beverly Hills is taking a proactive approach to ensure our community is safe," BHPD Chief Dominick Rivetti said in a video statement. "Beginning next week, the Beverly Hills Police Department will be on full alert throughout the residential and business districts. Additionally, other law enforcement personnel and a private security company will offer its support."

On May 30, angry crowds smashed and looted expensive boutiques on Rodeo Drive. In the following weeks, the city hosted numerous protests - both right and left-wing, that continued until Inauguration Day in January. The protests sometimes grew rowdy, with police arresting dozens of protesters and releasing sonic boom technology to disperse the crowds. Controversially, the city detained some protesters for up to 18 hours, without food or medicine. Subsequent protests sparked a permanent curfew of 9 p.m. in residential neighborhoods.

Ahead of the November election, the City Council granted the department an additional $4.8 million that paid for officer overtime, services by two private armed security firms, support from the Santa Paula Police Department, and five temporary BHPD officers. Similar precautions were taken ahead of the Inauguration in January. Ahead of and during the election, officers alternated 12-hour shifts.

The city came under fire for what some called heavy-handed tactics in handling protesters. The city and its police department were named in a lawsuit alleging that it and other nearby cities violated protesters' constitutional and civil rights through curfews, false imprisonments, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A month later, a Superior Court judge ruled against the city's emergency ordinance prohibiting loud gatherings of more than 10 people after 9 p.m. in residential neighborhoods.

The verdict

Derek Chauvin is a former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck last year. A jury found that Chauvin was guilty on all counts.

After two weeks of jury selection in the trial, 12 jurors were selected out of more than 300. The jurors were tasked with deliberating on one of the most controversial cases in modern history.
Chauvin was convicted Tuesday with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Law enforcement agencies all over California were preparing for potential unrest as the nation anxiously awaited the verdict of the trial. Last summer, a groundswell of activism swept the nation and the Golden State after Floyd's death on May 31. In Santa Monica, at least 200 businesses were damaged during a chaotic afternoon and night of looting stores and fires that badly destroyed some businesses in the downtown area.

The verdict — which was reached in about 10 hours — was read Tuesday afternoon. Chauvin's sentencing hearing will take place in eight weeks.

Chauvin faces a max of 75 years in prison under Minnesota law.

After it was announced that a verdict had been reached, demonstrators quickly congregated outside of the Hennepin County courthouse — where the trial took place — and at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, where Floyd spent his last moments.

— Patch Editors Michael Wittner, Kat Schuster and Nicole Charky contributed to this report. Refresh for updates.

Related coverage:

Ahead Of Chauvin Verdict, Beverly Hills Braces For The Worst | Beverly Hills, CA Patch

LA Braces For Unrest While Awaiting Derek Chauvin Verdict | Los Angeles, CA Patch

Beverly Hills and BHPD Sued For Handling Of Protesters | Beverly Hills, CA Patch

SWAT Teams And Boarded Up Windows: Beverly Hills Prepares | Beverly Hills, CA Patch

Beverly Hills Agrees To Additional $4.8M For Police And Security | Beverly Hills, CA Patch

Protesters Chanting 'Eat The Rich' Loot Rodeo Drive | Beverly Hills, CA Patch