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Sunday, August 14, 2016

Justice Department Announces Findings of Investigation into Baltimore Police Department



Justice Department Finds a Pattern of Civil Rights Violations by the Baltimore Police Department

The Justice Department announced today that it found reasonable cause to believe that the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution as well as federal anti-discrimination laws. BPD makes stops, searches and arrests without the required justification; uses enforcement strategies that unlawfully subject African Americans to disproportionate rates of stops, searches and arrests; uses excessive force; and retaliates against individuals for their constitutionally-protected expression. The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies that have persisted within BPD for many years and has exacerbated community distrust of the police, particularly in the African-American community. The city and the department have also entered into an agreement in principle to work together, with community input, to create a federal court-enforceable consent decree addressing the deficiencies found during the investigation.

“Public trust is critical to effective policing and public safety,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “Our investigation found that Baltimore is a city where the bonds of trust have been broken, and that the Baltimore Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unlawful and unconstitutional conduct, ranging from the use of excessive force to unjustified stops, seizures and arrests. The results of our investigation raise serious concerns, and in the days ahead, the Department of Justice will continue working tirelessly to ensure that all Baltimoreans enjoy the safety, security and dignity they expect and deserve. I am grateful to all of the community members, local officials, faith leaders and current and former police officers who spoke with us during the course of our inquiry, and whose input will remain critical to our efforts as we move forward. Additionally, I commend the city and BPD for its proactive and collaborative approach to our inquiry and for demonstrating a strong commitment to restoring public confidence by already taking steps to make needed changes. I look forward to continuing our work together to implement urgent and necessary reforms.”

“We found that BPD has engaged in a pattern or practice of serious violations of the U.S. Constitution and federal law that has disproportionately harmed Baltimore’s African-American community and eroded the public’s trust in the police,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division. “The agency also fails to provide officers with the guidance, oversight and resources they need to police safely, constitutionally and effectively. In communities across America, even in communities where trust has been broken, we’ve seen transformative reform rebuild relationships and advance public safety. In the weeks ahead, as we negotiate our consent decree with the city, we will seek input from law enforcement and community members. With the city and commissioner’s commitment to reform, I am optimistic that we will work to drive that same progress in Baltimore.”

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19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Finally the illegal behaviors of cops in Baltimore is being exposed in a real way. As opposed to the fake way the media tried to expose it. The Mayor needs to real the cops back in for the benefit of all the citizens.

Anonymous said...

I refuse to believe anything that comes out of this justice department that can't find anything wrong with Hillary or the IRS but goes after global warming denialists and states like Arizona.

Corrupt! Corrupt! Corrupt!

LastMohican said...

So, SOME good did come from those trials. Good. It's a start. Now more dept.'s need to start doing this. And finally the feds are going to start tracking police killings. Long overdue.

Anonymous said...

The city and the department have also entered into an agreement in principle to work together, with community input, to create a federal court-enforceable consent decree

first paragraph, that right THERE is the federal government take over of police. it is happening in every single major city. 1 by 1. only 1 incident is necessary, the justice department makes the above "findings" and its over just like that.

Anonymous said...

The Justice department is racist so their findings mean absolutely zero.

Anonymous said...

5:22 i agree. Baltimore is what % black? If 9 out of 10 in baltimore are black how is that a voilation?

Anonymous said...

The Feds have always tracked cop killings it is call U.C.R. idiot. If you worried more about the number of murders in Baltimore and abhorrent criminal behavior of Blacks you would see the truth.

I am sick and tired of lame excuses from Black America. I refuse to call you morons African Americans. If you want respect earn it!!

The police have a tough job hell you people can not stop killing each other why do you think the cops should be able to do it.

If you are not happy here boats and planes leave daily go back to the Congo see that works for you. Pure ignorance is all I hear from BLM. F them lets get it on. Time to rid the herd of week beings. Maybe Hitler had it right all along.

Anonymous said...

The justice department hates cops. Nothing to see here, move along.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
The city and the department have also entered into an agreement in principle to work together, with community input, to create a federal court-enforceable consent decree

first paragraph, that right THERE is the federal government take over of police. it is happening in every single major city. 1 by 1. only 1 incident is necessary, the justice department makes the above "findings" and its over just like that.

August 10, 2016 at 4:56 PM

BINGO!!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
The Justice department is racist so their findings mean absolutely zero.

August 10, 2016 at 5:22 PM

Exactly and lets all remember this is a department under the cop hating Obama Administration.

Anonymous said...

6:29
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Those black people in America can't "go back" to the Congo.
They have never been to the Congo.

This is their Country,same as it is your's.
Many of the black Americans are uneducated and have been coddled by a nanny state.
The government has taken advantage of this population just as they have with all populations.

White people and black people need to unite in America.
Help identify WHO is the enemy of the People. WHO is taking our God given freedoms. WHO is controlling these corrupt police secret society organizations?

Let's get real about corruption.
Racism, Feminism, LGBTQ, Youth Movement, Black Lives Matter, all of these organizations are being controlled by secret societies. There is a secret agenda at work in the US and the People must wake up from their slumber in order to see the truth.

Thank you

LastMohican said...

Anonymous said...
The Feds have always tracked cop killings it is call U.C.R. idiot. If you worried more about the number of murders in Baltimore and abhorrent criminal behavior of Blacks you would see the truth
August 10, 2016 at 6:29 PM

AS usual, there is one knuckle head that talks out of his butt and has no clue what it is that comes out. I don't know if you're a dumb kid or a dumb kop, but either way you are dumb. I can tell reading is not your strong suit but I will try to teach you anyway.

The US government will track killings by police for the first time ever
The US government will track killings by police for the first time ever
OFFICER INVOLVED

The US government will track killings by police for the first time ever
By Tess Owen

August 9, 2016 | 10:00 am
The US Department of Justice, for the first time, will keep a comprehensive database of fatal officer-involved incidents, amid rising skepticism around police accountability.

It seems impossible to ignore that the announcement from the Federal Register came late on Monday, just one day before the two-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown — the unarmed black teenager who was shot dead by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. His death triggered protests, sparked a national conversation about policing, and shone a spotlight on the systemic racism that pervades criminal justice in the US.

Until now, the FBI has maintained a dataset which includes information about fatal police shootings. Local law-enforcement agencies can voluntarily submit homicide statistics, including incidents involving police, to state police departments, which in turn send the data to the FBI. But since Brown's death, that system has been widely discredited.

Now, if you can't be civil don't even comment here. We already have enough of your type. Try to use your brain instead of your stunted emotions when communicating. I don't remember what else your comment was about but it does not matter. I have wasted enough time on the likes of you.


LastMohican said...

August 10, 2016 at 7:20 PM

Well at least there is one other intelligent person on here tonight.

LastMohican said...

Exactly and lets all remember this is a department under the cop hating Obama Administration.

August 10, 2016 at 6:36 PM

Geesh, you guys think everyone hates you. If you talk to people on the street like you do here, no wonder people don't like or trust you.

Anonymous said...

You can't trust this administration. Especially since they were supporting Mosby behind the scenes. Never let blacks run your city unless you want too ruin it.

Anonymous said...


Another travesty from the JustUs crew. Serves to distract from their criminal disregard of emailgate, clintonfoundationgate, loislernergate. They make intrigues in the feudal English and French courts seem amateurish.

Our Founding Fathers are spinning like turbines in their graves.

Anonymous said...

D.O.J. Department Of Jihad F Ohbammy and his cronies. 6:29 you nailed it. It all boils down to preferential treatment of blacks. We all have the same advantages. Wake up black America the President of the U.S. is black. Who you going to blame now. Your black President just keeps creating division and diversion. The motto of Democrats. We should hang every Democrat. Then the Judges and Politicians.

Free at last Free at last.

Anonymous said...

That's right the tainted political driven DOJ is race baiting again. Hopefully, they'll be added to the lawsuit suing Obama, Sharpton and DeRay! They are no longer a law enforcement agency. Only propaganda spinners.

Anonymous said...

August 11, 2016 at 10:19 AM

well you're just as dumb as 629 or you ARE 629. either one is possible.