The Justice Department is opening a broad civil rights investigation into policing practices in Ferguson, Missouri, officials said Wednesday. The investigation, which could also include other police forces in St. Louis County, will examine if local police have a "pattern or practice" of violating residents' civil rights, such as through racial profiling or excessive use of force. It is in addition to a separate FBI civil rights investigation into Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on Aug. 9.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson tells The New York Times that he welcomes the federal investigation. "We have no intentional policies or procedures which discriminated or violated civil rights," he said, adding, "Obviously, we have gaps."
At least five Ferguson police officers and one former officer have outstanding federal lawsuits against them claiming excessive force, The Washington Post reported last weekend, including allegations that cops hog-tied a 12-year-old boy who was out checking his family's mailbox and have pistol-whipped children. Attorney General Eric Holder has been more aggressive than his predecessors in investigating police departments for using excessive and deadly force.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
‘Social media is the new tabloid’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Can the NBA survive FBI’s gambling investigation?Talking Points A casualty of the ‘sports gambling revolution’
-
How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Lowered training standards and ‘athletically allergic’ hopefuls are hindering the White House plan to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a federal police force
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
