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."
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