After a long investigation, the Department of Justice has found that the Cleveland Police Department has "engaged in a pattern and practice of using excessive force," because of inadequate training and a lack of accountability, Attorney General Eric Holder said on Thursday.
In a press conference in Cleveland, Holder added that the city and the federal government had reached some understanding on ways they could curb the deficiencies.
Holder acknowledged that this news was coming after high profile cases of officer-involved deaths in New York and Missouri. As the investigation was ongoing, a 12-year-old boy playing with an air gun was shot and killed by a Cleveland police officer.
Holder said the Obama administration had come to the conclusion that the "time has come to do even more."
During its investigation of Cleveland Police, the Justice Department reviewed some 600 use-of-force incidents between 2010 and 2013.
The AP wraps up some examples of what they found:
— Officers fired guns at people who did not pose "an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to officers or others." — Officers used guns in a "careless and dangerous manner," including hitting suspects in the head with their firearms and firing in ways that place innocent bystanders in danger. — Officers used stun guns and pepper spray instead of trying to de-escalate situations. — Officers punched suspects who have been handcuffed "as punishment" after a person struggled with an officer or did not comply with demands. — Officers arrested and assaulted mentally ill people after family members called police for help.
Holder said the city has agreed to the appointment of monitor who will oversee training for the department.
Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
