Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Justice Dept. announces Ferguson police probe

Eric Holder DOJ investigation

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File-Pool

FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2014 file photo, Attorney General Eric Holder talks with Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol at Drake’s Place Restaurant in Florrissant, Mo. The Justice Department plans to open a wide-ranging investigation into the practices of the Ferguson, Missouri, Police Department following the shooting last month of an unarmed black 18-year-old by a white police officer in the St. Louis suburb, a person briefed on the matter said Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is launching a broad investigation into the practices of the Ferguson, Missouri, police department.

That's according to Attorney General Eric Holder. He announced the investigation following the shooting last month of an unarmed black 18-year-old by a white police officer in the St. Louis suburb.

It's a separate inquiry from an ongoing federal civil rights investigation into the circumstances of the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson. A local grand jury is also investigating.

This investigation will look at police department practices over the past few years, including patterns of stops, arrests and use of force, as well as the training the officers receive.

The Ferguson department says it welcomes the Justice Department investigation.

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