The Incremental, Inadequate Changes That Nonetheless Led to the Chauvin Conviction Minneapolisâs former mayor says they werenât enough, but they were essential. Guilty: Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin being taken into police custody âI would not call todayâs verdict âjusticeâ ⦠because justice implies true restoration. But it is accountability, which is the first step towards justice." That was Minnesota Attorney Gen. Keith Ellison after the prosecution he headed resulted in the historic conviction of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd. The challenge of justice in public safety is underscored by how difficult it can be just to achieve basic accountability. Police reforms are politically hard to enact. The right thinks they go too far; the left thinks they donât go far enough. As a result, policymakers have to spend twice the political capital to get them done. This is a big reason why policies that seem like no-brainers arenât in place everywhere and still require such a fight in city after city.Â