District Attorney George Gascón, the nation's only police officer turned elected prosecutor, issued the following statement in response to the jury's verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial:

'The jury delivered accountability, but the future of equality rests squarely in America's hands. This verdict is a critical step in the ongoing march toward restoring public trust in a criminal justice system that over-criminalizes communities of color and often fails to hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct.

As a former Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, I taught use of force and personally have faced circumstances when I could have used force but chose not to. As Los Angeles County District Attorney, I have used that experience to inform my decisions.

I will continue to advocate for better training for officers, stronger accountability in use-of-force cases and an independent review of officer-involved shootings. Effective policing must be fair and just to enhance our collective safety. We must continue to work together to build a justice system that promotes equal access to justice for all.'