Racist Policing in Ferguson Verified by DOJ Report

The U.S. Justice Department has reportedly concluded that the Ferguson Police Department has for years practiced discriminatory policing tactics, creating a culture of “racial animosity” in the lead up to the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown last summer.

The findings, which are expected to be released as early as this week, are the conclusion of a months-long federal investigation into the department. Speaking under anonymity, law enforcement officials briefed on the report told the New York Times that the “highly critical” assessment charges the local police department with “disproportionately ticketing and arresting African-Americans and relying on the fines to balance the city’s budget.”

According to the most recent data (pdf) published by the Missouri attorney general, in 2013, Blacks accounted for 86 percent of traffic stops in Ferguson but compromise 63 percent of the population. Further, black drivers were twice as likely to be searched by the police department, which is 95 percent white.

Last month, reports indicated that the DOJ will not bring charges of civil rights violations against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. Despite that, the federal probe is intended to examine the “broader practices” of the department in order to “give context for the shooting.”