The DOJ announced its investigation into the practices of the Baltimore Police Department, which has been accused of discriminatory practices.
The Federal Department of Justice announced on Thursday that it will conduct a formal investigation into the alleged civil rights violations by the Baltimore Police Department. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake requested the investigation earlier this week, hoping to uncover any possible patterns of discriminatory actions in the police department.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced on Friday that the Justice Department would fulfill the mayor’s request. Ms. Lynch, who visited Baltimore the day before Rawlings-Blake made the request, commented on the situation.
“It was clear to a number of people looking at the situation that the community’s rather frayed trust was even worse and has been severed,” she said. “We’re talking about generations of mistrust, and generations of communities who feel very separated from government.”
The community in Baltimore has long complained of unfair and discriminatory practice by the Baltimore Police Department. Though it invited a voluntary inquiry in the past, this federal investigation will be a definitive search into the practices of the department. Last year, the city of Ferguson's police department experienced the same type of federal investigation and was found guilty of discriminatory practices.
Baltimore Police Department will be monitored based on their use of force and pattern of arrests, searches, and stops. The decision came relatively quickly in comparison to other communities such as Ferguson, MO. Ms. Lynch stated that the riots that took place in Baltimore were tragic. “My first reaction was profound sadness, sadness for the loss of life, erosion of trust, for the sadness and despair that the community was feeling,” she said.
This investigation, according to Lynch, goes beyond the city of Baltimore. She hopes it will have national effect.
“Our hope is that other jurisdictions, cities large and small, can look at these reports and say ‘are these the issues that I face?’” she said. “Our goal is to be a resource and a guide, but not to be a hand reaching into police departments…We truly believe that cities and police departments, they know these issues best."
Baltimore Police Commission Anthony Batts was cooperative with the decision. He stated that he welcomed an outside investigation and wished to uncover any possible issues inside the law enforcement agency.
“I am willing to do anything it takes to win that trust back,” he said in regards to the community’s trust.
