Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Ferguson to weigh accepting U.S. government's police reform plan
Source: Reuters
World | Tue Mar 8, 2016 7:11am EST
Ferguson to weigh accepting U.S. government's police reform plan
FERGUSON, MO. | BY SUE BRITT
The Ferguson, Missouri, city council on Tuesday may back down and approve an agreement it reached with the U.S. Justice Department to reform the city's police department after the 2014 shooting of an unarmed black teenager.
The council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. local time (0100 GMT Wednesday) and officials indicated on Monday they may approve the agreement without the changes the city sought last month over cost concerns - which sparked a lawsuit from the Justice Department to force the city to comply.
The fatal shooting of unarmed Michael Brown, 18, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who is white, exposed tension between the city government and the largely black community. Ferguson erupted into violent protests in 2014 after a grand jury chose not to indict the officer.
A sharply critical report by the Justice Department last year documented discriminatory actions by Ferguson police and the municipal court system, especially against blacks.
The council accepted the basic terms of the agreement last month, but asked federal officials to make changes related to pay levels for police officers and staffing levels at the jail. It also wanted additional time to comply.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Ferguson to weigh accepting U.S. government's police reform plan
FERGUSON, MO. | BY SUE BRITT
The Ferguson, Missouri, city council on Tuesday may back down and approve an agreement it reached with the U.S. Justice Department to reform the city's police department after the 2014 shooting of an unarmed black teenager.
The council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. local time (0100 GMT Wednesday) and officials indicated on Monday they may approve the agreement without the changes the city sought last month over cost concerns - which sparked a lawsuit from the Justice Department to force the city to comply.
The fatal shooting of unarmed Michael Brown, 18, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who is white, exposed tension between the city government and the largely black community. Ferguson erupted into violent protests in 2014 after a grand jury chose not to indict the officer.
A sharply critical report by the Justice Department last year documented discriminatory actions by Ferguson police and the municipal court system, especially against blacks.
The council accepted the basic terms of the agreement last month, but asked federal officials to make changes related to pay levels for police officers and staffing levels at the jail. It also wanted additional time to comply.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-missouri-ferguson-idUSKCN0WA1G2