The United States Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the Memphis Police Department and the city of Memphis to determine whether there is a pattern of constitutional or civil rights violations against citizens.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced the investigation Thursday in Memphis, the Associated Press reports.
“We received multiple reports of officers escalating encounters with community members, resulting in excessive force. There are also indications that officers may use force punitively when they face behavior they perceive to be insolent,” Clarke said.
Other allegations include officers using force against people who are already restrained, and traffic enforcement that may be targeting black drivers for minor citations.
