 Before the sentence was handed down for former police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd during an arrest in May 2020, Chauvin's mother Caroline Polenty insisted on her son's innocence. Derek devoted 19 years of his life to the Minneapolis Police Department. It has been difficult for me to hear and read what the media, public, and prosecution team believed Derek to be an aggressive, heartless, and uncaring person. I can tell you that is far from the truth. My son's identity has also been reduced to that as a racist. I want this court to know that none of these things are true and that my son is a good man. When you sentence my son, he will also be sentencing me. Derek, I want you to know I have always believed in your innocence and I will never waver from that.