8 horrifying revelations in the Justice Department’s Ferguson report

[Judi Lynn]

Wednesday, Mar 4, 2015 03:42 PM CST

8 horrifying revelations in the Justice Department’s Ferguson report

From unconstitutional searches to racist emails, here are some of the most revolting findings
Luke Brinker


The Justice Department released its full report on the Ferguson Police Department on Wednesday, seven months after Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed unarmed African American teen Michael Brown — an event which galvanized demonstrators against racial bias in policing and triggered the Justice Department’s probe. Though a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson and the Justice Department opted not to bring federal civil rights charges in the case, the department’s report makes clear that Wilson was part of a local law enforcement system tainted by racial bias, abuses of citizens’ constitutional rights, excessive use of force, and an over-reliance on fines and fees to generate revenue.

Such systemic injustices poisoned police-community relations in Ferguson, where 67 percent of the population is African American but the police force is 94 percent white. The Justice report depicts a law enforcement system in deep need of a overhaul — and offers a horrific look at how white supremacy functions in 21st-century America.

Below, Salon looks at eight of the most revolting revelations in the report.

1. Over-reliance on fines and fees for revenue — and pressure to generate more

For years, Ferguson has relied heavily on law enforcement fines and fees to keep city operations running, with the percentage of city revenues generated by such fees gradually increasing over time. In 2011, fines and fees collected by the municipal court accounted for $1.38 million of the city’s $11.07 million in general fund revenue, rising to $2.46 million by 2013. Last year, the city budgeted for the court to collect $2.63 million in revenue.

After sales taxes, traffic fines constitute Ferguson’s second-largest source of revenue. City officials made no secret of their desire to generate more revenue from stops and other law enforcement-imposed penalties, increasing the budgeting for court-generated revenue and stepping up pressure to impose tough penalties. In April 2014, for instance, the finance director of Ferguson wrote city officials to recommend an “I-270 traffic enforcement initiative” in order to “fill the revenue pipeline.”

The fees can be financially punishing for the city’s many poor residents, many of whom can’t afford to pay the burdensome penalties assessed on them — including $302 for a manner of walking violation, $427 for disturbing the peace, and $777 for resisting arrest.

More:
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/04/8_horrifying_revelations_in_the_justice_departments_ferguson_report/

[Scuba]

1. Sounds like the Sheriff is related to Bull Connor ...

6. Using canines to bite nonviolent civilians

Officers deployed canines against low-level, nonviolent offenders, including minors, according to the report. In December 2011, officers allowed a canine to bite an unarmed 14-year-old African American boy who was waiting at an abandoned property for his friends. Officers justified the arrest by stating that the boy had a committed a burglary — if anything, the boy had only trespassed, Justice finds — and asserting that the boy was hiding from officers and was warned that the dog would bite him if he continued to do so.

The boy says he never hid from officers and did not hear any such warnings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_Connor

Connor's actions to enforce racial segregation and deny civil rights to Black citizens, especially during the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Birmingham campaign of 1963, made him an international symbol of racism. Connor directed the use of fire hoses and police attack dogs against civil rights activists, that included the children of many protestors.

[midnight]

2. If they can exact such high fines from traffic stops…Next stop prison profits...

[SomeGuyInEagan]

3. "1. Over-reliance on fines and fees for revenue — and pressure to generate more"

I suspect if investigated, many city and county law enforcement agencies would fit into that category these days.

Add to it, law enforcement agencies which use forfeiture laws to confiscate and sell items from people, in some cases people who are not found guilty (but this is after their property has been sold).

AKA, "Policing for Profit"

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/08/25/strike-force-settlement

[Demeter]

4. Revelations to whom?

Anybody who was paying attention knew this months ago.

[imthevicar]

5. And Nothing, NOTHING ,

will be done about it.

[Pirate Smile]

10. It's coming. This is just the first step.

[Jefferson23]

6. Powerful report. K&R

[panader0]

7. "manner of walking violation'?

[From The Ashes]

19. I found this report:

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-walking-black-ferguson-police-justice-report-20150305-story.html#page=1

Among the civil-rights violations alleged in a scathing Justice Department report on police in this St. Louis suburb, is one that African American residents say has long plagued them: “Manner of walking along roadway.”

The innocuous municipal code requires pedestrians to walk on the sidewalks or close to the side of the road whenever possible. Its intent is to make sure people don’t block a road.

But according to the federal report, police have routinely used the law for another purpose — to fine and harass blacks. African Americans accounted for 95% of manner of walking along roadway charges from 2011 to 2013, according to the report.

“We called it walking black,” said Kevin Seltzer, 30. “You would leave out of your house to go to the store and might not make it back.”

[Stellar]

8. k&r

MF's...

[Chakab]

9. This shit goes on all over the country.

[WillyT]

11. Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[progressoid]

12. And what of the hundreds of other departments across the country?

This isn't limited to Ferguson.

[heaven05]

14. yep

country filled with 'fergusons'. NO DOUBT.

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. I saw an interview of a Ferguson resident (Black/Male/40ish) ...

He welcomed the report; but added, this is not limited to Ferguson. He stated that when he crosses the city line, he is treated the same way.

[heaven05]

13. tainted? Okay

Last edited Thu Mar 5, 2015, 02:35 PM - Edit history (1)

I opt for brimming, bursting, chock full, crammed, filled, overcrowded with racists bent on dehumanizing, financially destroying and physically killing any POC that dare stand up for their humanity.

[Dont call me Shirley]

16. Time to tax the rich. This "fees paying for city management" scheme is a direct result of the rich

and big business not paying their fair share of taxes.

[OldRedneck]

17. WTF is "Manner of Walking?"

So the cops in Ferguson stop people if they don't like the way the person is walking?

[From The Ashes]

18. I found this:

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-walking-black-ferguson-police-justice-report-20150305-story.html#page=1

Among the civil-rights violations alleged in a scathing Justice Department report on police in this St. Louis suburb, is one that African American residents say has long plagued them: “Manner of walking along roadway.”

The innocuous municipal code requires pedestrians to walk on the sidewalks or close to the side of the road whenever possible. Its intent is to make sure people don’t block a road.

But according to the federal report, police have routinely used the law for another purpose — to fine and harass blacks. African Americans accounted for 95% of manner of walking along roadway charges from 2011 to 2013, according to the report.

“We called it walking black,” said Kevin Seltzer, 30. “You would leave out of your house to go to the store and might not make it back.”