NEW YORK
A major U.S. city has agreed to reform its controversial policing tactics, authorities said Tuesday.
The Cleveland police department, which faced widespread criticism after a Justice Department investigation found a pattern of excessive force and civil rights violations in its methods, pledged to implement strict federal reforms that will make way for a major overhaul of its use-of-force policy.
The agreement with the Justice Department came days after a police officer was cleared of all charges in the 2012 killing of an unarmed black couple.
The verdict triggered a night of protests in the city on Saturday, leading to the arrest of more than 70 people.
“A fundamental goal of the revised use of force policy will be to account for, review, and investigate every reportable use of force,” the agreement says.
The decree also averts a possible lawsuit by the federal government after its investigators found last December that Cleveland police systematically used unnecessary and excessive force far too often and failed to impartially investigate itself.
The federal probe was prompted in part by the death of black 12-year-old Tamir Rice who was fatally shot last November by a white rookie Cleveland police officer who said he believed the boy was carrying a gun, which turned out to be a toy.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement that the agreement “looks to address serious concerns, rebuild trust, and maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.”
The 105-page settlement not only addresses the Justice Department's complaints, but also aims to transform the force into a national model for big-city police
A federal judge must approve the agreement, which was reached after five months of negotiations, before it officially takes effect, according to local news website Cleveland.com.
Once approved, the Justice Department and the city will appoint an independent observer to monitor the implementation of reforms, the website said.
Police Officer Michael Brelo, 31, was acquitted of voluntary manslaughter on Saturday in the November 2012 shooting in which he climbed onto the roof of a car and fired 15 shots into vehicle's unarmed black occupants, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams.
Clashes between police and protesters occurred Saturday night, with 71 arrests – 62 of those detained face formal charges.
A string of police-involved killings of black suspects including Michael Brown in Missouri, Eric Garner in New York and Freddie Gray in Baltimore has made national and international headlines during the past year.
The incidents have stirred racial tensions, setting off nationwide protests over perceived injustices within the U.S. justice system.
