Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for his role in the killing of George Floyd in 2020, a tragic event that ignited widespread protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Thao, the last former Minneapolis police officer to face sentencing in state court, was found guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

During the trial, Thao testified that he acted as a "human traffic cone," holding back concerned bystanders while his colleague, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd's neck for over nine agonizing minutes. By doing so, Thao prevented bystanders from providing much-needed medical aid to Floyd. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill, in his ruling, deemed Thao's actions objectively unreasonable and highlighted that he had a duty to intervene and render medical aid. Consequently, the judge sentenced Thao to 57 months in prison.

It is important to note that Thao had rejected a plea bargain and instead opted to allow Judge Cahill to decide the case based on evidence from Chauvin's murder trial in 2021 and the federal civil rights trial of Thao and two other former officers in 2022. Chauvin, the main perpetrator in Floyd's killing, was found guilty of murder and received a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison. The other two officers involved, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and were sentenced to 3 and a half years and 3 years, respectively.

With Thao's sentencing, the final criminal case related to Floyd's killing has come to a close. The video capturing Floyd's arrest and subsequent death sent shockwaves worldwide, generating outrage and prompting a nationwide reckoning on police brutality and racism. While Thao's sentencing is seen as a step towards accountability in Floyd's death, many believe that true justice has not yet been fully achieved.

This case has served as a catalyst for calls to reform policing practices and address systemic issues within law enforcement. It has sparked a global movement demanding accountability and an end to racial injustice. The legacy of George Floyd lives on, as his tragic death continues to inspire efforts to create lasting change in society. The hope is that through continued advocacy and reform, incidents like Floyd's killing can be prevented, and true justice can be realized for all.