Eric Holder Announces Broad Justice Department Investigation of Ferguson Police; Says There is Enough Evidence to Justify Probe

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.

SOURCE: ERIC TUCKER
The Associated Press