DOJ Report Cites Law Enforcement Shortcomings in Ferguson Unrest
Published at | Updated at
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — A report commissioner by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, a part of the Justice Department, found that multiple shortcomings on the part of law enforcement contributed to the violent riots in Ferguson, Missouri last year.
The report has been disseminated to certain agencies, but the final version won’t be released for a few weeks. The draft version of the report, obtained by ABC News, included 42 findings related to law enforcement’s reaction to the initial protests.
Among the findings were that inconsistent training and different policing philosophies contributed to poor incident command and management, that the Ferguson Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department used only immediate tactical responses do to the mistaken belief that riots would be “short-lived,” and that use of canine units “unnecessarily [incited] fear and anger among amassing crowds.”
The report also cited military-style uniforms, equipment, weapons and armored vehicles used by law enforcement that “produced a negative public reaction.”
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.