Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who mandated police reforms for departments statewide in the aftermath of Floyd’s killing, called the verdict “a powerful statement of accountability.” Both Nassau and Suffolk counties are poised to begin equipping their police forces with body cameras as part of reform efforts.

“While I’m grateful that the jury returned these verdicts, accountability is not the same as justice,” Cuomo said. “It doesn’t make an unacceptable situation acceptable, and it doesn’t bring Gianna’s dad back. But it must fuel our continued march towards equity.”

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) called for continued action on police reform.

“While I’m heartened by this verdict and believe it’s an important step towards accountability, we must remember that this verdict is not true justice,” she said in a statement. “True justice would mean that George Floyd would have walked away from that encounter alive.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) said Floyd’s killing was a “turning point” in the fight for racial justice.

“That Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts is important and it is right,” he said in a statement. “But I also know we must continue to challenge the system that enabled his murder in the first place.”

New York State Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement there was “finally accountability for this atrocious crime” against Floyd.

“While true justice will never be served as long as Black men and women are subjected to such inequality, today, we are one step closer to a fairer system,” James said.