US opens civil probe in Minneapolis Police Department

ANKARA

US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Wednesday that the Department of Justice has launched a probe of the practices of the Minneapolis Police Department following the murder of George Floyd.

"The investigation I am announcing today will assess whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, including during protests," Garland said in a news conference.

The announcement came one day after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in the May 2020 killing of Floyd, whose death was captured on a bystander's smartphone camera.

Garland said it will proceed separately from a federal criminal probe into the death of Floyd and there would be a public report on the conclusions.

While the Department of Justice earlier opened a separate probe to look into whether Chauvin violated Floyd’s civil rights, Garland said he believes most police officers around the US are trying to do their best to uphold the law.

"Yesterday’s verdict in the state criminal trial does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis," he said.

"I strongly believe that good officers do not want to work in systems that allow bad practices. Good officers welcome accountability, because accountability is an essential part of building trust with the community, and public safety requires public trust," he added.

Chauvin pinned Floyd to the ground with his knee fixed on his neck for more than nine minutes amid pleas from Floyd that he could not breathe and desperate cries for his mother.

The video elicited worldwide outrage and months of protests in the US and the world against police brutality targeting Black Americans and communities of color.

Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.