The Dept. of Justice investigation results of Cleveland Police Misconduct

The DOJ states that their investigation under the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 (“Section 14141”) focused on allegations of excessive force by CDP officers. Section 14141 makes it unlawful for government entities, such as the City of Cleveland and CDP, to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Division and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio

Our investigation concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that CDP engages in a pattern or practice of using unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth Amendment. That pattern manifested in a range of ways, including: • The unnecessary and excessive use of deadly force, including shootings and head strikes with impact weapons; • The unnecessary, excessive or retaliatory use of less lethal force including tasers, chemical spray and fists; • Excessive force against persons who are mentally ill or in crisis, including in cases where the officers were called exclusively for a welfare check; and • The employment of poor and dangerous tactics that place officers in situations where avoidable force becomes inevitable and places officers and civilians at unnecessary risk