By Associated Press - Thursday, March 17, 2011

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Justice Department has found evidence that New Orleans police officers often have used deadly force without justification, have a pattern of making unconstitutional arrests and have engaged in racial profiling.

The scathing report released Thursday said the department long has failed to protect New Orleans residents adequately. It cites numerous reasons for the failures, including inadequate supervision and ineffective methods of taking and investigating complaints.

The report was the result of a request made by Mayor Mitch Landrieu shortly after he took office in May 2010. Mr. Landrieu has said he would welcome a federal consent decree ordering changes once the Justice Department completed its review.

The department had been plagued by scandal for decades, including shootings of unarmed people in the chaos that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

 

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