DOJ Investigates Police Racial Discrimination
Attorney General Merrick Garland has announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is initiating an investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department. According to the official statement, the DOJ has opened a “pattern and practice” investigation. They will be looking at possible patterns of racial discrimination and the use of excessive force by police personnel.
Most news services failed to report on the DOJ’s complete official statement. What seemed of little interest to the newsies was the fact that the investigation is delving into both the Police Department AND the City of Minneapolis – a longtime Democrat stronghold.
Maybe the reporters missed it because Garland, himself, failed to note the inclusion of the City of Minneapolis when he said: “Today, I am announcing that the Justice Department has opened a civil investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing.” However, the official statement on the DOJ’s website mentioned the City administration.
Garland noted that this investigation is in addition to the previously announced criminal inquiry into the death of George Floyd. I thought Minnesota prosecutors, including the state’s Attorney General Keith Ellison, already completed the eleven-month investigation into Floyd’s death. And the result was the conviction of former Officer Derek Chauvin on all counts.
The news reports speculate that the DOJ may be looking into new charges against Chauvin. He apparently knelt on the neck of a 14-year-old for 17 minutes several years ago – but without a tragic outcome. One might wonder why they should even bother.
The seemingly endless launching of government investigations – and especially those that seem politically motivated – is getting tiresome. Rather than producing any civic benefits, they seem to create nothing more than rancor among the citizenry.
Garland said the second investigation is necessary because “the verdict in the state criminal trial does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis.” Hmmmm. Imagine that, systemic racism in yet another Democrat-controlled city.
The current DOJ’s use of “pattern and practices” investigations of police departments is a return to the Obama Administration policies. The Trump administration launched only one such investigation in four years – and that involved a small police force in Massachusetts. The Obama DOJ opened more than two dozen “patterns and practices” investigations — without any notable outcomes.
As a nuance to the investigation, Garland had revoked the Trump administration’s policy of restricting the use of “consent decrees” to force municipalities and local departments into compliance with federal demands – often arbitrary federal standards.
Even though he is technically under investigation, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the investigation is “an opportunity to continue working towards that deep change and accountability that we know that we need in the Minneapolis Police Department, and so to the extent the DOJ can help with that we very much welcome.” People under investigation always promise to cooperate fully.
But is the City really under investigation? I can read what the DOJ announcement said, but I have my doubts.
What I find most interesting about the investigation, it confirms what I have said over many years. If there is systemic racism in police departments, it is almost always in Democrat-controlled ones. Minneapolis has only had one Republican mayor – and for only one year – since 1961.
In any major city, the mayor is much more responsible for the leadership and the culture of the police department than even the police chief. The mayor hires the top brass. The mayor can order changes in policy. If you have significant corruption in a police department, you can be sure that it comes down from the top.
I will make a prediction. DOJ investigators will find egregious patterns of discrimination and excessive use of force. BUT … they will never link it to City Hall. That is how the political bias works. Authorities or the bias news media never hold Democrat politicians accountable.
Generations of the most egregious systemic racial discrimination have never been brought to the door of those controlling the system – at least not since Martin Luther King confronted the Democrat leadership in such places as Selma, Atlanta, Montgomery and Chicago. He knew where the systemic racism originated – and who was fostering it.
Today, the so-called civil rights leaders like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are part of the Democratic Party establishment that diverts attention away from the source of the problem for their own power, prestige and profit. If the Democratic Party was the Mafia, these guys would be “made men.”
Historically – and today – the national Democratic Party pays lip service to civic rights while looking the other way at the racism in their own backyard. It was so with President Roosevelt and the southern Democrats. It was so with President Kennedy and the racist Democrat mayors – and the southern Democrats. Even President Obama ignored the systemic racism of the Chicago Democrat Machine – from whence he rose to power.
The fact that virtually every killing of a Black man – and virtually every protest and riot that has stemmed from the oppression and abuse Blacks suffer in Democrat-run cities – the connection is never made between the problem and the politicians responsible. There is no accountability.
Democrats and the left-wing media can celebrate the DOJ investigation of the City of Minneapolis and its police department because they know when all is said and done, those in charge will never be held accountable.
So, there ‘tis.
Minneapolis is a Civil Service City. The Mayor doesn’t “pick” the Chief. It is a tested position.
I’m not sure what political party has to do with any of this, police are executing civilians all over of great Nation, in both red and blue states and cities. Let the DOJ do their job, maybe the police department are comfortable with they operate… but it’s a good bet that most are going to be in agreement that it’s time to change the way America Polices it’s citizens.
Always remember you DEMOCRAT COMMUNIST NAZIS won’t always be in charge.
As a point of information, Officer Chauvin, is an AMERICAN HERO. Period
B.L.M. = “BLUE LIVES MATTER”.
(criminal lives NOT AT ALL)
Robert,
Blue lives matter until you decide to commit insurrection and then they are pigs that must be sprayed bear repellent, hit with flag poles, and beat.
And what about all these,” don’t tread on me flags”, what government agency do you think are going to do the treading? ( hint, it’s the guys in blue)
This must be a joke. They need to look into how many criminals have shot at and/or killed policemen. If policemen are errorenously killing then it it the local department, city, or state to investigate! Also, shouldn’t something be done about all the kilings, riots, property destruction, etc. thatt is being doing by BLM rioters be investigated? If this was done, there wouldn’t be nearly as many altercations between police and blacks!!!!~!~ Get a life.
Larry, you know what else the DOJ is investigating? Rudy Giuliani. This is getting exciting! I believe that a couple of Rudy/ trump associates are also caught up in this investigation.
I am looking forward to your hot take on this subject!
WWG1WGA!… on a side note, that sounds like socialist dream.
Larry, I think this ex sheriff might fit into the few people that hate black people category. But I’ll take your word about systemic racism not being a real issue.
A former Georgia deputy said he had plans to charge Black Georgians with felonies to prevent them from voting, according to court filings in the Middle District of Georgia.
Cody Griggers, 28, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. He was fired from his position in November 2020 after FBI investigators messaged the Wilkinson County sheriff about the investigation into Griggers, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
What really should be investigated is the DOJ and the idiots running it. If you want to find systemic racism or liberal sick thinking it there!
Mr. Hoist should have made it clearer: Nearly all UNARMED Black People killed by police are killed in Democrat governed cities: 90%+!
And: More such killings occurred under the Democrat Obama/Biden government that under President Trump! 2019 was the BEST YEAR in this.
As for RACIALLY BIASED POLICE, we cannot overlook the fact that the Minneapolis Police Chief of the George Floyd death was BLACK!
And the fact that Minneapolis Police used the infamous KNEECHOKE 237-times in the past 5 years, turning 44 arrested people UNCONSCIOUS!
This practice had been imported from Apartheid South Africa via Israel, and I found the FIRST DEATH UNDER POLICE KNEE in December 1994, which was the year of the first Police Laws designed by Mr. Biden as ‘Head of the Congress Justice Committee’ (that is: after his Draft of a Law excusing the L.A. beaters of Rodney King). – ME THINKS, MR GARLAND HAS A LOT OF AVOIDING TO DO WITH HIS “INVESTIGATIONS”!
Jboo,
I’m glad you agree that it is way past time for police reform!!
Where do you suggest we start?
Sending social workers to neighbor complaints?
Stop having police pad city coffers by taxing harmless infractions?
Have more than 27 weeks of training?
Shift the focus of training from marksmanship to deescalation tactics?
I’m for any and all of these!
What are your ideas?
Larry,
No column on the FBI’s raid on the President’s personal attorney ?
This is great. The AG is doing this while completely ignoring Antifa and BLM (and their funders and supporters/coordinators) who are rioting, looting, burning down our cities, and murdering police officers and innocent civilians. But since that is in support of the Leftist, anti-American agenda, it’s fine and not worthy of any attention or investigation. Right…
Lawrence,
The “but everyone else is speeding also” defense doesn’t usually work.
Ben –
So in spite of all the statistics that say otherwise, you are claiming that police brutality and racial animus is a serous problem?
Umm… what statistics are you referring?
Yes, Police brutality, excessive force use is a problem. Even one case negates the whole “justice for all” thingy.
Even Larry’s readers bring up concerns about excessive force use.. albeit against whites, but their point stands. Police are trained to view everyone as a potential threat. And when all you have in your training arsenal is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.
Look at it this way, even if racial profiling and brutality aren’t a big issue, the perception of those being patrolled believe it is. Therefore creating an untenable dynamic for both parties.
I urge an Inspector General to investigate the “Federal Bureau of Investigation” and the “United States Department of Justice”, for OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
So the dept of Justice can make the time to investigate the police who protect us but are not interested in young Biden, old Biden, Obama, Pelosi or Maxine waters. Wat to go Merrick.
Micheal,
Are you saying the DOJ is incapable of doing more than one things at a time?