Norton Says DOJ Civil Rights Investigation of Police Practices in Ferguson was Mandatory Following Michael Brown Tragedy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) strongly supported Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement today that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will begin a civil rights investigation to determine whether Ferguson, Missouri Police Department routinely engaged in racial profiling or used excessive police force, following the death of Michael Brown. She said that the investigation is "essential to get to an apparent history of police action that came to light only with the Michael Brown tragedy." The investigation is in addition to an ongoing DOJ investigation into whether the officer who shot Michael Brown violated civil rights laws.

"Anecdotal evidence has produced a wealth of information of classic patterns of police misconduct, including discriminatory stops and the detention of blacks in Ferguson," Norton said. "Such patterns nationwide have been confirmed by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics report showing that people of color are stopped at rates two to three times that of whites in every region of the country. For that reason, I introduced, and the House passed, an amendment in June that prevents states that receive federal transportation funding from engaging in racial profiling."

Norton said that in addition to "a virtually mandatory investigation," the Attorney General has gone further to take an important step toward permanent reform using community policing. He announced a months-long "collaborative reform effort" with the St. Louis County Police Department to improve policing tactics and relationships with the community.

Norton also said the Metropolitan Police Department's recent announcement of a six-month pilot program using body-mounted, point-of-view cameras is "an important proactive step based on a lesson well learned that can protect residents and police alike." The D.C. pilot program was being arranged well before the Ferguson incident.

Last month, Norton called on DOJ to bring the COPS program to Ferguson, and noted that District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy Lanier has become well-known nationwide for successful community policing in the District of Columbia. In June, the House passed Norton's amendment to the House fiscal year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill that prohibits states that receive federal transportation funding from engaging in unconstitutional profiling based on physical characteristics, such as race.