Baltimore mayor calls for federal investigation into police department

Department of Justice said it is considering an investigation into Baltimore police force

(Getty Images)

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has asked the federal government to investigate the city’s police department for habitual use of excessive force or discriminatory practices.

The city has a history of questionable policing tactics that came to a head last month when 25-year-old Freddie Gray died while in police custody, setting off sometimes-violent protests. Six Baltimore police officers have been charged in Mr Gray’s death and one was charged with second-degree murder.

Ms Lynch, the US attorney general, said the Justice Department is actively considering such an investigation. But the city is not waiting on the feds to investigate before making changes to the police force.

The mayor said that by the end of the year all Baltimore police officers will be wearing body cameras. Still, a federal investigation could bring about even more changes.

The Justice Department issued a damning report on Ferguson, Missouri police earlier this year and in the past has reached agreements with cities – like New Orleans – to amend their policing policies.

Baltimore City Council President Jack Young has been calling for a federal investigation into Baltimore police for months, his spokesman said

“The only way we're going to get the kind of lasting and meaningful reforms that are going to produce results is through a full-scale civil-rights investigation,” Lester Davis said.

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