The Justice Department announced Monday it will be reviewing the use of force procedures and practices of the San Francisco Police Department, at the request of city officials and community leaders. The two-year audit is unlike the more stringent DOJ civil rights division investigations in that along with being voluntary, the review will not result in a court-mandated legal settlement, just recommendations.
“In the days and months ahead, we will examine the San Francisco Police Department’s current operational policies, training practices and accountability systems, and help identify key areas for improvement going forward,” Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said in a statement. “I am confident that together we can make certain that our officers have the tools and training they need to do their jobs, and that every member of the San Francisco community has the protection and service they deserve.”
Other police departments, such as Baltimore, have undergone similar DOJ reviews to try to address issues of racial discrimination and preempt a formal DOJ civial rights investigation. The San Francisco departmental review comes after a video showed city cops shooting and killing 26-year-old Mario Woods in Dec., compounding complaints of racism on the force by community members.
