USA-MISSOURI/SHOOTING-HOLDER Holder says will use full U.S. authority to reform Ferguson police
Record ID:
324498
USA-MISSOURI/SHOOTING-HOLDER Holder says will use full U.S. authority to reform Ferguson police
- Title: USA-MISSOURI/SHOOTING-HOLDER Holder says will use full U.S. authority to reform Ferguson police
- Date: 6th March 2015
- Summary: FERGUSON, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) RIOTING IN FERGUSON, MISSOURI, FOLLOWING A JURY'S FAILURE TO INDICT OFFICER DARREN WILSON
- Embargoed: 21st March 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA1HRQ4YVJRPEESOLC96GD0RZKP
- Story Text: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Friday (March 6) the Justice Department would use its full authority to reform the police department in Ferguson, Missouri, including potentially dismantling the department.
A reporter asked Holder after he stepped off Air Force One with President Obama about how he plans to restructure the police force in Ferguson. "Does that include dismantling the police force?" she asked.
"If that's what's necessary, we're prepared to do that," Holder replied.
Holder went on to tell reporters that the Obama administration will issue national guidelines urging local municipalities to drop their use of debtors prisons like those recently detailed in the Justice Department's investigation in Ferguson, Missouri.
Holder said President Barack Obama's task force on policing will issue guidelines to address the practice of jailing citizens who owe money to the city, but noted the federal government does not have the authority to impose such a change on local governments.
The Justice Department issued a report this week that found that police there overwhelmingly arrested and issued traffic citations to black residents, creating a culture of distrust that erupted in August when a white officer shot an unarmed black teenager. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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