Derek Chauvin's mother spoke publically for the very first time at the ex-cop's sentencing hearing, as she paid tribute to her "loving and caring" son.
Moments before Chauvin's 22-and-a-half-year sentence was announced on Friday (June 25), Carolyn Pawlenty - mother of the former Minneapolis officer - told the court that her son's "identity" had wrongly been "reduced to" that of a "racist".
"Derek devoted 19 years of his life to Minneapolis Police Department," Pawlenty said in her statement, per the Independent.
She went on to say: "It has been difficult for me to hear ... the media, public, and prosecution team believe Derek to be an aggressive, heartless, and uncaring person. I can tell you that is far from the truth.
"He has a big heart and he always has put others before his own. The public will never know the loving and caring man he is. But his family does."
Watch Pawlenty's comments in the video below:Pawlenty also directly challenged claims that Chauvin's actions on the day George Floyd died after he knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes were motivated by racism.
She continued: "My son's identity has also been reduced to that ... as a racist. I want this court to know that none of these things are true and that my son is a good man."
Praising her son, the mom said: "Derek always dedicated his life and time to the police department. Even on his days off, he would call in to see if they needed help."
Pawlenty also said that "Derek has played over and over in his head the events of that day", in reference to the day Floyd died.
Appealing to the better nature of Judge Peter Cahill, she said: "When you sentence my son you will also be sentencing me. I will not be able to see Derek, talk to him on the phone or give him a special hug. Plus, the fact that when he is released, his father and I most likely will not be here."
Chauvin's mother then addressed her son directly as she said: "Derek, my happiest moment is when I gave birth to you. And my second is when I was honored to pin your police badge on you. I remember you whispering to me, 'Don’t stick me with it.'"
Pawlenty then assured him: "Derek, I want you to know I've always believed in your innocence. And I will never waiver from that."
She did not express any condolences to Floyd's loved ones as her son later did during a statement of his own.
Despite Pawlenty's belief in Chauvin's innocence, he was sentenced to 22 and a half years behind bars.
This was less than the 30-year sentence prosecutors were seeking but more than Minnesota's guideline for second-degree murder for an individual without a criminal record.
