14 Minneapolis officers sign sworn declarations that Assistant Chief Katie

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Yes, you read that right.

Fourteen current and former Minneapolis police officers have signed sworn declarations saying that they believe Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell perjured herself during Derek Chauvin’s murder trial. According to these officers, the restraint Chauvin used was part of something called the “maximal restraint technique,” or MRT, and was part of MPD officer training, which contradicts Blackwell’s testimony.

As Alpha News reports, these statements were among declarations submitted by the outlet’s legal representatives in response to a defamation lawsuit filed by Blackwell against Alpha News, Alpha News reporter Liz Collin, producer J.C. Chaix, and a publishing company, alleging that the Alpha News documentary film The Fall of Minneapolis and a book authored by Collin wrongly accused Blackwell of lying.

This week, lawyers for Alpha News filed a 113-page motion to have the case dismissed with prejudice.

Attorney Chris Madel wrote in the motion:

With this motion, 33 former MPD officers who served with Blackwell, and one who currently serves with her, have sworn that MPD trained this restraint as part of the ‘maximal-restraint technique’ (‘MRT’) and otherwise. Indeed, 14 of these officers have sworn — under oath — their belief that Blackwell perjured herself.

According to the motion, these officers “swore that this training was well known — indeed, common knowledge — and omnipresent.”

“Blackwell remarkably claims that Collin and Chaix defamed her when they opined that it ‘seemed’ like Blackwell lied. In reality, this opinion was far more generous than necessary. It is a fact,” the motion reads.

“The heartfelt support that numerous Minneapolis police officers, current and former, have shown our clients has deeply moved and humbled all of us,” Madel said in a statement. “It is emblematic of the courage they have shown us every day.”

One of the officers who signed the declaration is former MPD officer Ken Tidgwell, who even produced an image of Blackwell appearing to use a knee-to-neck/upper shoulder restraint during an arrest in 2014. 👇