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Today, former police officer Kimberly Potter was found guilty on charges of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the April 2021 fatal shooting of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
In response, Puneet Cheema, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) Manager of the Justice and Public Safety Project, issued the following statement:
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Daunte Wright for their loss and for having to relive the traumatic events of his shooting during the trial. The conviction of Kimberly Potter presents only a measure of justice that can never fully erase the harm caused by her actions.
“Officers wield enormous power and they must be held accountable for their actions and the consequences of those actions. As a police officer, Potter’s tenure, extensive training, and oath to safeguard life cannot be forgotten. Potter failed her oath, she failed Daunte Wright, his family, loved ones, and the residents she pledged to protect. The shooting of Mr. Wright further highlights the larger need to reimagine public safety and reduce the scope of policing, particularly as it relates to law enforcement engaging in traffic stops for minor offenses.”
