The Metropolitan Police Department has reinstated Officers Terence Sutton and Lt. Andrew Zabavsky after President Donald Trump pardoned them for their roles in the 2020 death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown, a case that sparked protests following George Floyd’s murder. Both officers had been suspended without pay as the legal process unfolded, but were reinstated on Monday and are now being paid again.

They will undergo extensive retraining before the department decides their future assignments, though it’s unclear if they will return to public-facing roles. Sutton was convicted of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice, while Zabavsky was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. They both received full pardons shortly after Trump’s inauguration. Prosecutors claimed the officers pursued Hylton-Brown, who was driving a moped without a helmet, at excessive speeds, leading to his death when he was struck by an uninvolved motorist. Investigators also accused the officers of tampering with evidence and misleading their superiors. Defense attorneys dispute the allegations and expect to overturn the convictions on appeal. The DC police department supported the pardons, arguing that violations of pursuit policy should be addressed through training, not criminal prosecution. Sutton expressed his gratitude for the pardon and hopes to return to his career, though it remains uncertain.