The End of Discriminatory Policing in Ferguson?

[jpak]

Source: The Atlantic

The Ferguson, Missouri, City Council reversed its previous position and voted Tuesday night to accept the changes to its courts and police departments that were recommended by the U.S. Justice Department in the wake of the killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, by a police officer.

The council voted unanimously, 6-to-0, to accept the Justice Department’s changes, and likely spared itself from an expensive legal battle.

Under the Justice Department’s recommendations, officers would take a diversity-training course and would be trained to first de-escalate a situation. Additionally, the city would buy software and hire staff to review arrest data to prevent discrimination, and all supervisors and officers would be fitted with body cameras within 180 days. The arrangement would also require Ferguson to hire an independent monitor to ensure the city lives up to the agreement.

After Brown’s death, the government released a report that found Ferguson’s officers regularly and unconstitutionally stopped and searched blacks in the community. It also found the courts used officers as a way to generate revenue through constant harassment and unnecessary fines.

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Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2016/03/ferguson-discriminatory-policing/473982/

[reflection]

1. Good.

They were going to lose and be on the hook for the bill, which they wouldn't be able to make up in the usual manner (the shaking down of minorities for revenue).

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. I predict they will try to find every way possible to get around the new rules.

"forgetting to turn on camera" has already been a tried and true trick in other cities.

[ghostsinthemachine]

3. Yeah! Hurrah!

This will change nothing. Systemic racism is not something you can change at the flip of the switch. Look at Chicago.

[NobodyHere]

4. So how does the city pay for this.

I'm not saying it's not needed but where does the money come from? Ferguson is already running a $2.5 million deficit.

There's going to be a tax increase on the ballot but what if that is voted down?

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. No wonder they have such a deficit. They

must be sued up hill and down dale.

[Nye Bevan]

6. While I'm not normally a big advocate of affirmative action,

I make an exception in the case of overwhelmingly white police forces in majority black cities. Hiring a significant number of black officers would be much more productive than any amount of "diversity training".

[JustAnotherGen]

7. Kick