Gov. Walz Activates MN National Guard For Derek Chauvin Trial

MINNEAPOLIS — Gov. Tim Walz Friday authorized the Minnesota National Guard to provide public-safety assistance in Minneapolis and St. Paul in March when the trial for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is set to begin.

Chauvin faces second-degree manslaughter and second-degree unintentional murder in the Memorial Day death of George Floyd.

Former offices Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and will Tou Thao — who were also involved in Floyd's death — will stand in court together on Aug. 23.

"There are some public safety events for which you cannot plan, and there are some for which you can. The upcoming trials of the former officers involved in the death of George Floyd have raised the potential of civil unrest in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and nearby communities," the governor said in a news release.

"At the request of the City of Minneapolis and the City of Saint Paul, I have authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist local law enforcement agencies during the upcoming trials."

The executive order Walz signed Friday is part of the state's months-long preparations ahead of the high-profile trial.

"As public interest increases and decreases throughout the legal process, members of the Guard will be ready to supplement local law enforcement efforts to keep the peace, ensure public safety, and allow for peaceful demonstrations," Walz added.

Walz called on the Minnesota Legislature this week to pass his SAFE Account proposal. According to the governor's office, the measure would ensure that the cities and counties across the Minnesota that volunteer to send additional police officers are reimbursed for their efforts to "help secure this extraordinary event."

The National Guard is not a law enforcement agency and must partner with police during any amount of unrest.