US Justice Department to probe Chicago police over violations

The US Justice Department is set to begin a probe into the Chicago Police Department to investigate the department’s use of excessive force and civil rights violations.

The Chicago Police Department confirmed that Justice Department officials will arrive on Wednesday to begin the probe and meet with police department staff and Superintendent John Escalante.

“The Chicago Police Department welcomes the meeting requested by the Department of Justice, and pledges the city’s complete and full cooperation,” the department said in a statement on Tuesday.

Last week, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the Department of Justice would be launching a civil "pattern and practice investigation" into the police department to determine whether last year’s fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was part of a larger, widespread pattern of officers violating civil rights.

The investigation will focus on the department’s use of force, Lynch said, particularly if there are racial, ethnic or other disparities in officers' use of force, and its systems of accountability.

McDonald, who was black, was shot 16 times in a span of 15 seconds by Jason Van Dyke, who is white. Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder late last month.

Numerous rallies were held in Chicago and several major cities in recent weeks over McDonald’s death.

Critics have alleged a cover-up in the case, since it took more than a year since McDonald was killed to bring criminal charges.

They also say there are written reports from officers at the shooting scene that do not fit the police dashcam video of the incident.

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