Ferguson Sued By Department Of Justice To Implement Policing Reforms

The Justice Department is suing the government of Ferguson to carry out policing reforms following an extensive investigation after police shooting of Michael Brown.

Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black boy, was shot to death by a Ferguson police officer, Darren Wilson, on the 9th August 2014. No charges were filed and Wilson was cleared of any crime. Wilson later resigned.

After the incident, black residents decided to voice out how they were maltreated by the police. These allegations led the Department of Justice to open an extensive investigation.

In March 2015, the Department of Justice reported that the Ferguson police department and court system violated the civil rights of black residents. Many blacks were harassed and the city made millions of money from the fines and fees paid by the black residents.
Ferguson police chief and municipal judge resigned after the report was released.

As a result of the report released, the DOJ filed a costly civil lawsuit against the city of Ferguson. The DOJ recommended certain changes to be made in the police department, which included police officers wearing cameras, increment in the salaries of police officers to motivate them and preventing the local residents from being held for more than 12 hours on a municipal warrant.

According to The Post-Dispatch report, The Ferguson city council refused to agree to DOJ proposal claiming that it was going to be very expensive to implement. The city council voted and rejected the deal and initiated seven amendments that were less costly.

The DOJ filed a suit the following day.

The Justice Department held a negotiation with the city council that if they considered the agreement, the lawsuit would be dropped. The DOJ said they were going to support the city on the financial issue.

The city finally agreed to the amendments.

On March 15 there will be a council meeting and if the city council approves the agreement, improvements will take effect immediately.