The US Department of Justice launched an investigation against the Minneapolis police after the verdict in the murder of African American George Floyd, said US Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“The Justice Department has launched a civil investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department is tolerating trends or practices of unconstitutional or illegal law enforcement behavior”, – Garland told a news conference.
Garland clarified that this investigation is separate from other federal investigations into the cause of Floyd’s death.
The day before, a jury in a Minneapolis court found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd. Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts of murder. He faces up to 40 years in prison.
The death of African American George Floyd after being detained by police in 2020 provoked mass demonstrations and riots in the United States.