The former police officer charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for killing an African-American man two weeks ago was given a conditional bail of $1.25 million on Monday. 

On June 8, Derek Chauvin attended the initial hearing for the murder of George Floyd at a Hennepin County courthouse via a live video feed from his prison cell. The ex-cop, a 19-year war veteran, has been in jail since his arrest on May 29. 

The prosecutor, Matthew Frank, claims Chauvin is a "flight risk" due to the severity of the charges as well as the strong public reaction from his crime. He argued for a bail of $1.25 million, citing the former cop's likelihood to flee from the jurisdiction. 

The Monday hearing did not require the ex-officer to submit a plea. Eric Nelson, the defendant's lawyer, said he did not object to the bail request, leading Minneapolis Judge Heannice M. Reding to grant it. 

Bail Conditions

According to the conditions, Chauvin will be granted a $1 million bail if he surrenders his firearms, remains in the state until the trial, stop working in law enforcement, and avoid all contact with Floyd's family members. 

The ex-cop's bail is at least $250,000 higher than the bail amount given to the other three officers involved in Floyd's death. According to the New York Times, former officers Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Keung blamed Chauvin-their training officer-for the crime. The third officer, Tou Thao, reportedly cooperated with authorities.     

Defunding and Abolishing the Police

George Floyd's death has led to widespread protests across the United States as well as in several cities in Europe and Latin America. Some of the demonstrations resulted in violent clashes with the police, multiple cases of arson, and looting. 

Since the incident, the University of Minnesota, the city school board, and the parks department severed its ties with the police department. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced he would cut the budget of the city's police department. In New York, Corey Johnson, the council speaker, announced they would cut the police department's $6 billion budget.

On Sunday, Minneapolis city councilman, Jeremiah Ellison, announced they would dismantle the city's police department. Many advocates view who has called for the defunding of the police department to invest in other resources aimed at keeping minority communities safe. 

The council has yet to release details of the plan. However, ideas from advocacy groups such as Reclaim the Block and Black Visions Collective would be considered and would likely be included in the proposal. They also promised to develop plans based on past studies. 

While dismantling a law enforcement department has not been done anywhere else, some cities have already made significant changes to policing. In Austin, Texas, the city budget allocated millions for mental health issues. Emergency calls are answered by operators who offer police, fire, or mental health services to the caller. 

In Eugene, Oregon, the CAHOOTS team deploys a medic and a crisis worker with mental health training to respond to 911 calls. 

In Camden, New Jersey, officers hand out more warnings than tickets. They also undergo training that places importance on holding their fire. 

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