# Who can tell me about Derek Chauvin’s hand? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455 "2021-04-21T14:04:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cincinnatus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cincinnatus/32/7990_2.png) [@cincinnatus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cincinnatus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/1 "2021-04-21T14:04:57Z")
After following the Floyd murder on and off for all this time, I am left with an unsettling question. Someone here will know the answer, for sure. Derek Chauvin was kneeling on George Floyd all that time with one hand in his pocket. Why would his hand be in his pocket, and seemingly so deliberately? I have seen police deal with troublesome suspects, but never with one hand in their pocket. Has it been authoritatively reported anywhere why he had his hand in his pocket? Any police or former police, please tell us about your thoughts on his hand. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/2 "2021-04-21T14:09:55Z")
I think it’s just hard to see since he’s wearing black gloves and his hand is on his dark navy blue pants, so it looks like it’s in his pocket, but it’s just resting on his leg. But, yeah, I always noticed that too. His hand appearing to be in his pocket always made him look really casual/relaxed during the encounter. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/3 "2021-04-21T14:11:17Z")
Doubt that there is a factual answer for this but I would say to maintain his balance. In order to exert maximum force on the subject. That question answered per the rules of General Questions, may Chauvin burn in hell. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/4 "2021-04-21T14:13:08Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Doubt that there is a factual answer for this but I would say to maintain his balance. In order to exert maximum force on the subject. Most people are a lot more likely to lose their balance with their hand(s) IN their pocket(s) since they can’t quickly move their arms out. They also can’t break their fall if they need to. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/5 "2021-04-21T14:18:06Z")
I disagree. I’ve observed that a lot of people will place their hand on their back while having sex in order to maintain balance and maximize thrust. Sorry but I can’t post videos of this here. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/6 "2021-04-21T14:21:04Z")
I haven’t seen the pictures recently, but might it be so that he keeps his hand near his service pistol? Assuming he’s right handed. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/7 "2021-04-21T14:24:08Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I disagree. I’ve observed that a lot of people will place their hand on their back while having sex in order to maintain balance and maximize thrust. Sorry but I can’t post videos of this here. Unless you have your hand in your pocket during sex, I’m not sure how that relates. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/8 "2021-04-21T14:34:13Z")
Are gloves part of the police uniform? Or do some cops just wear them because they think it looks cool and fearsome? If the latter, what would they be allowed to wear apart from gloves, would a Hannibal Lecter mask be accepted? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/9 "2021-04-21T14:35:51Z")
[Alanis Morissette - Hand In My Pocket](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUjIY_XxF1g) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/10 "2021-04-21T14:38:21Z")
You wear gloves when handling a suspect if you can, I’m sure. Basic safety issue even pre-Covid. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/11 "2021-04-21T14:40:56Z")
Really? 😲 Not in Europe, I have never seen that. Never thought our arrestees were cleaner. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/12 "2021-04-21T14:48:49Z")
A lot of US cops assume the suspect will have something sharp on them, like a syringe or knife, and the gloves give some degree of protection if they put their hands on it by accident. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/13 "2021-04-21T14:50:38Z")
Ignorance fought, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/14 "2021-04-21T14:52:19Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > A lot of US cops assume the suspect will have something sharp on them, like a syringe or knife, and the gloves give some degree of protection if they put their hands on it by accident. I feel like the nitrile glove thing also got more common as the opiate, and particularly fentanyl, problem got bigger. More cops worried about getting it on their hands when rifling around in a purse or car. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of them also then realized that wearing them means that they can arrest someone without getting (the suspect’s) sweat/puke/spit on them as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/15 "2021-04-21T15:35:25Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Alanis Morissette - Hand In My Pocket 🎶 “With one hand in my pocket, and the other one choking a suspect!” 🎶 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/16 "2021-04-21T21:10:41Z")
[Moderating] Factual responses to this never looked very likely, and in fact they’re not forthcoming. Moving to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/17 "2021-04-21T21:25:57Z")
From Politifact: [Did Derek Chauvin have his hand in his pocket as he restrained George Floyd?](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/apr/19/facebook-posts/did-derek-chauvin-have-his-hand-his-pocket-he-rest/): > [@](#): > > - Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin wore black gloves and dark pants as he pinned George Floyd to the ground with his knee. As a result, some screen grabs from a bystander’s video of the incident show the color of his gloves blended in with that of his pants. > > - The screen grabs circulating on social media gave the false impression that Chauvin’s left hand was in his pocket. He was actually holding his knuckles to his thigh. > > - USA Today enhanced the brightness and exposure of the screen grabs circulating on social media to accentuate the placement of Chauvin’s hand on his thigh. Backed up by a similar fact-check article from Reuters ([Fact Check-Derek Chauvin did not have his hand in his pocket while kneeling on George Floyd](https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-chauvin-pocket-idUSL1N2MD1SD)) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/18 "2021-04-21T21:33:54Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Unless you have your hand in your pocket during sex, I’m not sure how that relates. For some people, having their hand in their pocket is all the sex they can get. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/19 "2021-04-22T16:14:15Z")
At the risk of being dinged for threadjacking, though I don’t really think it is or I wouldn’t ask: What do y’all think about cops wearing tactical gloves, like [https://www.palmflex.com/ironclad-super-duty-stealth-gloves.html](https://www.palmflex.com/ironclad-super-duty-stealth-gloves.html) ? They always strike me as overly agressive/macho, but I have friends who say that’s nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455/20 "2021-04-22T16:18:23Z")
IANALEO. I wear work gloves when I’m doing stuff around the house; chainsawing, weed whacking, fence repairing, etc. I get fewer cuts and scratches, plus my vitiligo affected hands do not burn. If I were working with the downtrodden in my community I’d wear nitrile gloves under tactical gloves. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-tell-me-about-derek-chauvin-s-hand/940455.md?page=2)