Cop in Floyd case got medals for valor and drew complaints

By BERNARD CONDON, TODD RICHMOND and MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A Minneapolis police officer who used his knee to pin down George Floyd's neck before his death had a record that included both medals for bravery and 17 complaints against him.

New details about Derek Chauvin and the other three now-fired officers emerged Wednesday after prosecutors upgraded Chauvin's charge to second-degree murder and charged the others with aiding and abetting.

Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the force, was reprimanded in 2007 for pulling a woman out of her car for going 10 mph over the speed limit.

He also won two medals of valor, including one in 2006 for being part of a group of officers who opened fire on a stabbing suspect who pointed a shotgun at them.

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