WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday that it’s launching a civil rights investigation against the Ferguson Police Department.
The federal investigation comes on the heels of the August 9, 2014, shooting death of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson that triggered violent protests, looting, and clashes between Ferguson officers and protestors.
“This investigation will be carried out by a team from the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section – some of the same dedicated professionals who have achieved historic results in ensuring constitutional policing from coast to coast,” Attorney General Eric Holder said Thursday at a press conference.
Adding, “Over the past five years, the Civil Rights Division has prosecuted over 300 individual officers for misconduct. We have opened 20 pattern or practice investigations into police departments across the country. That’s more than twice as many as were opened in the previous five years.”
Holder said there are 14 agreements to reform law enforcement practices at agencies throughout the country.
“With these agreements, we have seen dramatic decreases in excessive uses of force; greater equity in the delivery of police services, including important measures to address bias; and, most significantly, increased confidence by communities in their law enforcement agencies,” Holder said.
The Justice Department, since 1994, has had the legal authority to investigate whether a law enforcement organization is engaging in a “pattern or practice” of civil rights violations. Usually investigations end with both sides coming to an agreement without going to trial; however, sometimes a case is filed in federal court for a resolution.
“When I visited Ferguson two weeks ago, I promised that the U.S. Department of Justice would continue to stand with the people there long after the national headlines had faded,” Holder said.
The Attorney General said this investigation will assure the people of Ferguson that the Justice Department will ensure that a fair, thorough investigation occurs. Holder said he hopes to concrete action along with positive change can be the outcome that brings together police officials, civil rights leaders, and the public to bridge a gap and build understanding.
The Ferguson mayor and police chief both told NBC News on Thursday that they welcomed the federal investigation, according to MSNBC News.