Biden administration's probes of police agencies in jeopardy

Source: Axios

12 hours ago


Federal probes into alleged civil rights abuses by a dozen cities' police departments haven't led to any reform agreements during the Biden administration — and are unlikely to do so in Donald Trump's second term.

Why it matters: The investigations by President Biden's Justice Department came in response to allegations of systemic, unconstitutional misconduct by the police departments, such as using excessive force and conducting illegal traffic stops.

Such probes often lead to court-ordered consent decree agreements, which require police to impose various reforms.

But Trump suggested during the presidential campaign that he equates such pacts to "defunding the police," or weakening law enforcement.

Zoom in: During Trump's first term, his administration refused to enter into any consent decrees to reform police departments, even after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020 put pressure on law enforcement agencies.

Trump's administration unsuccessfully sought to withdraw from consent decrees negotiated during the Obama administration, but not yet finalized, in Chicago and Baltimore

.

Biden's Justice Department launched investigations into these agencies:

Phoenix Police Department

Louisville (Ky.) Metro Police Department and Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government

Louisiana State Police

Worcester (Mass.) Police Department

Minneapolis Police Department

The City of Lexington (Miss.) and Lexington Police Department

Rankin County (Miss.) Sheriff's Department

Mount Vernon (N.Y.) Police Department

New York (N.Y.) Police Department Special Victims Division

Oklahoma City Police Department

Memphis Police Department

Trenton (N.J.) Police Department

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/12/07/biden-adminstration-police-probes-trump