HuffPo
DOJ found that the distrust between African-Americans and the Ferguson Police Department was largely attributable to the department's approach to law enforcement.
File this under "not surprising at all but still news".
More updates coming.
From Politico
In addition to violations by police, the DOJ found that the city of Ferguson’s municipal court amassed revenue through excessive ticketing of residents living in or near poverty. The investigation alleges that this practice encouraged police misconduct.
Over 16,000 of Ferguson’s 21,000 residents had outstanding arrest warrants, the majority of which were the result of cases involving minor traffic or housing code violations.
12:47 PM PT: More from St. Louis Post-Dispatch: http://www.stltoday.com/...
People were arrested and charged with "Manner of walking in roadway". That's a crime? And they enforce it?
1:02 PM PT: More from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/...
In 88% of cases in which Ferguson police documented the use of force, that force was used against African Americans, according to the official who is not authorized to comment publicly. In addition, in all 14 canine bite incidents in which the suspect's race is known, the person bitten was African-American.
1:32 PM PT: The Grey Lady weighs in: http://www.nytimes.com/...
Good article and nice graphic showing disproportionate use of police power against African Americans.
2:09 PM PT: Politico: http://www.politico.com/...
A law enforcement official familiar with the department’s civil rights probe found that the FPD frequently conducted traffic stops without reasonable suspicion and arrested individuals without probable cause. The source also said that the investigation found Ferguson police routinely employed excessive force and violated the free speech rights of the accused.