Derek Chauvin is an American former Minneapolis Police Department officer convicted of killing George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, in May 2020.
Chauvin was filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest, despite Floyd pleading that he couldn’t breathe. Floyd’s death sparked widespread protests against police brutality and racial injustice across the United States and around the world.
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- Full name: Derek Michael Chauvin
- Stage Name: Derek Chauvin
- Date of birth: March 19, 1976
- Age: 48 years old
- Place of birth: Oakdale, Minnesota, United States
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Former US police officer and convicted murderer
- Height: 1.75 m
- Parent: Carolyn Pawlenty
- Siblings: Unknown
- Spouse: Kellie Chauvin (divorced)
- Children: Unknown
- Relationship: Single
- Net Worth: $500,000
Early life and education
Derek Michael Chauvin was born on March 19, 1976, in Oakdale, Minnesota, United States. His mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, was a housewife, and his father was a certified public accountant, although his father’s name is not widely known.
Chauvin grew up in West Saint Paul, Minnesota. His parents divorced when he was seven years old and were granted joint custody. It is unclear whether Chauvin has any siblings.
Chauvin attended Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, but did not graduate. Instead, he later earned his GED in 1994. He also earned a certificate in mass food preparation from Dakota County Technical College and worked as a line cook at McDonald’s and Tinucci’s buffet restaurants.
Chauvin attended Inver Hills Community College from 1995 to 1999. He then transferred to Metropolitan State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement in 2006. Chauvin is white and Christian.
Career
Derek Chauvin joined the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) in 2001 after applying in September 2000. During his tenure, he was involved in three police shootings, one of which was fatal. He received medals of valor in 2006 and 2008 for fatal use of force.
Chauvin has a history of disciplinary issues within MPD, with 18 complaints filed against him, though most were dismissed. He has received two letters of reprimand for misconduct.
On May 25, 2020, Chauvin was one of four police officers involved in the arrest of George Floyd. During the arrest, Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for approximately nine minutes, despite Floyd repeatedly pleading that he could not breathe.
Floyd’s death sparked widespread protests across the United States and around the world against police brutality and racial injustice. Chauvin was charged with murder and manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s death. In April 2021, Chauvin was convicted on all counts and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison.
Social media
Derek Chauvin does not have any active social media accounts.
Personal life
Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, was previously married to Kellie Chauvin, a real estate agent and photographer who is a Hmong refugee from Laos. She won the 2018 Mrs. Minnesota beauty pageant.
Derek and Kellie Chauvin married in 2010 and their marriage lasted more than 10 years. They do not have any children together, although Kellie Chauvin has two children from a previous marriage.
Their relationship later ended, and Kellie filed for divorce the day before Derek Chauvin was arrested for the murder of George Floyd. Their divorce was finalized in February 2021. Derek Chauvin is currently single, as his marriage to Kellie Chauvin has fallen apart.
Net worth
Derek Chauvin’s net worth was estimated at $500,000 before his trial and conviction for the murder of George Floyd. However, that figure has likely dropped significantly due to the significant legal fees and other costs associated with his high-profile case.
