After the scandal involving Michael Brown, the Justice Department has finally ordered the opening of a large investigation into the allegations of unlawful police tactics. It was in Ferguson that an unarmed black teenager was shot by a police officer.
The shooting sparked weeks of violence-ridden protests that got the attention of an entire nation.
Eric Holder, Attorney General, visited Ferguson a couple of weeks ago and announced the investigation that would follow the shooting of the 18-year-old African American teenager.
During a news conference taking place in Washington, Attorney General Holder made the following statement: “In meetings and listening sessions — as well as informal conversations — people consistently expressed concerns stemming from specific alleged incidents, from general policing practices, and from the lack of diversity on Ferguson’s police force. ”
Ferguson’s police department is predominantly white while the population is black. As such, discrimination allegations could be filed gratuitously.
The investigation that will be conducted by the Division of Civil Rights belonging to the Justice Department will evaluate years of police work to determine if there were additional cases of discriminatory behavior and excessive force use.
According to Holder, investigators will also search for deadly force use and they will be attentively investigating all police stops, searches and arrests as well as the treatment of inmates in jail.
In turn, the city of Ferguson assured authorities that they would have its full cooperation, transparency and forthrightness. They wish to regain the trust of their residents.
Benjamin Crump, Michael Brown’s family lawyer also released a statement on behalf of the family:
“We believe that transparency in law enforcement is the only way to build trust in the community, not just in the killing of Michael Brown, but for others who have suffered as well … We can’t have another young man’s life taken amid murky circumstances. We want the truth to shine brightly.”
