Justice Dept., Ferguson seek common ground on police reform

The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has spent three days discussing with community groups and individuals in Ferguson, Missouri, the outcome of an investigation and evaluation of the city’s police department.

The meetings come on the heels of a six-month Department of Justice investigation, which showed a pattern of civil rights violations in Ferguson. In the wake of the report, the department is moving toward negotiating with the city of Ferguson on a plan to reform those unconstitutional practices “in the form of a court enforceable consent decree to achieve the necessary changes,” said Department of Justice spokeswoman Dena Iverson.

The discussions with the Ferguson community on how to address the unconstitutional practices identified in the department investigation are paramount, she said.

“The meetings generated thoughtful and constructive recommendations for changes to address the unconstitutional practices identified by the investigation,” she said. “Community members were overwhelmingly committed to assist in the effort to achieve meaningful police and court reform as quickly as possible. In the coming weeks, department officials will continue to meet with these and other individuals, including Ferguson police officers, to solicit ideas for potential solutions.”

Should the Justice Department and city of Ferguson fail to negotiate a consent decree over police reform, the department will consider filing a lawsuit against the city to ensure that the unconstitutional practices identified in its findings are remedied, Ms. Iverson said.