Following the DOJ’s findings of civil rights abuses by the Memphis Police Department and the City of Memphis, both groups held press conferences Thursday morning.
In a statement issued Wednesday evening, the DOJ stated, “The Memphis Police Department and City of Memphis engage in a pattern and practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in order to have a better understanding of the city and the police department’s operations, they conducted interviews with a number of current workers, watched body camera footage, and observed officer training.
The DOJ demanded radical reform of the police force, emphasizing that significant changes rather than minor adjustments were required.
