Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday that the Justice Department will conduct a law enforcement investigation in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd.
The announcement comes a day after a Hennepin County jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder for killing Floyd.
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“Yesterday’s verdict in the state criminal trial does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis,” Garland said during a news conference.
Garland said the investigation will be a “comprehensive review” that will look at whether the Minneapolis Police Department has an “unconstitutional or illegal pattern or practice of policing.” It specified that this includes “the use of excessive force, including during protests,” as well as “discriminatory conduct and whether the treatment of people with behavioral health disabilities is illegal.”
The investigation will be conducted by DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and the United States Attorney’s office for the District of Minnesota, and will examine policies, training, oversight, use of force provisions, accountability systems, and more. of the MPD to determine if “it is necessary to implement other mechanisms.
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“I firmly believe that good officials don’t want to work in systems that allow for bad practices,” Garland said. “Good officers welcome accountability because accountability is an essential part of building trust with the community, and public safety requires public trust.”
Floyd’s death sparked a wave of protests, riots and activism across the country due to Chauvin’s conduct, in which he knelt on Floyd’s neck, pinning him to the ground for more than nine minutes.
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The police investigation is not the only federal investigation to stem from the incident that left Floyd dead. Following the reading of the verdict on Tuesday, Garland released a statement in solidarity with Floyd’s family and reminded the country that a federal civil rights investigation is still in progress.
“While the state’s prosecution was successful, I know that nothing can fill the void that George Floyd’s loved ones have felt since his death. The Department of Justice has previously announced a federal civil rights investigation into George Floyd’s death. This investigation is ongoing. “
Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.