MOSCOW, September 4 (RIA Novosti) - US Justice Department will launch broad civil rights investigation into Ferguson Police Department, the Washington Post reported.
The probe will not only look at Ferguson, but also at other police departments in St. Louis County.
Five current and one former member of the Ferguson police force face pending federal lawsuits, claiming they used excessive force during the protests held in the city over the death of a 18-year-old African-American Michael Brown, who has been shot at least six times by a white police officer.
The killing triggered a wave of violent protests in Ferguson, a downtrodden suburb of St Louis of some 21,000 residents, with the demonstrators demanding the arrest of an officer.
The incident raised the issues of racial discrimination, human rights violations, as well as an increased militarization of law enforcers.
In order to suppress protesters, US policemen used armored vehicles, high-technology weaponry and stun grenades at the protests, according to media reports.
Tactics used by US police came under sharp criticism, including from US Attorney General Eric Holder.
"At a time when we must seek to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the local community, I am deeply concerned that the deployment of military equipment and vehicles sends a conflicting message," Holder said.
Following public criticism, Obama has ordered to review programs of military equipment sales to local police departments.
According to a study conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union, US citizens are widely concerned with the extensive militarization of the country’s police, stating that policemen often dangerously overreact to routine situations, resulting in death and injuries to members of the community.
