Justice Department to investigate Baltimore police for civil rights violations

[Jazzy]

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Friday that the Justice Department is launching a civil rights investigation into the Baltimore Police Department.

Previously, Lynch explained, her team had examined whether particular officers violated policies, but now it will look into whether the Baltimore Police Department violated the Constitution and the civil rights of residents.

Investigators will examine whether Baltimore police engage in practices that violate the Constitution or federal law.

“This investigation will begin immediately and will focus on allegations that Baltimore Police Department officers use excessive force, including deadly force; conduct unlawful searches, seizures and arrests, and engage in discriminatory policing,” she said.

Allegations of police misconduct in Baltimore drew national attention last month following the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray. The young man was arrested on April 12 and died of spinal cord injuries on April 19.

Riots broke out in the streets of Baltimore that reminded many people of the rioting that devastated the city for two weeks in April 1968, following the assassination of civil rights hero the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Others saw a correlation between the Gray incident and other high-profile deaths of African-American men at the hands of police officers over the past few years, such as the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.

Gray’s death was ruled a homicide, and the six officers involved in his arrest now face a variety of criminal charges, including second-degree murder, misconduct in office, and false imprisonment.

“At the conclusion of our investigation, we will issue a report of our findings,” she explained. “If unconstitutional policies or practices are found, we will seek a court-enforceable agreement to address those issues.”

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Thoughts?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

This like having the Black Panthers investigating the KKK for not having more black members.

 

[Jazzy]

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has been the mayor since 2010 and before that was a city council member for 4 years. I find it hard to believe it took her 9 years to suddenly become aware there might be discriminatory police practices toward blacks. The kicker is she's black and the police chief is black. Whatever policing policies that are currently in place she and her police chief approved and were comfortable with up until the Freddie Gray incident. I'm of the opinion she called the DOJ because her job is on the line after that 'stand down' order was issued. It's a diversion tactic to draw attention away from her own bad decisions and incompetence for fear she could be recalled.