The Department of Justice has launched a federal civil rights investigation into the entire Baltimore Police force in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray and recent riots.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the probe will examine police practices during stops, searches, and arrests.
Yahoo News noted that on Friday, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that a full investigation would be conducted.
“When I traveled to Baltimore earlier this week, I had the opportunity to see the significant work that the city and the police department had done with the COPS [Community Oriented Policing Services] Office over the last six months through a collaborative reform process,” Lynch said during a press conference. “But despite the progress being made, it was clear that recent events, including the tragic in-custody death of Mr. Freddie Gray, had given rise to a serious erosion of public trust.”
She said that the investigation will look into allegations made that members of the BPD have used excessive, even deadly force against the city’s residents.
The 25-year-old Gray was arrested last month and suffered an acute spinal injury while in police custody. He later slipped into a coma and died. Last week, prosecutor Marilyn Mosby announced that six police officers have been charged in his death.
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