Investigation exposes 'systemic problems' of Minneapolis police

WASHINGTON -- The US Justice Department on Friday released an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), exposing its "systemic problems" including racial discrimination and the use of excessive force.

Prompted by George Floyd's killing, the two-year investigation disclosed the MPD's constant engagement "in pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the Constitution and federal law."

The MPD "unlawfully discriminated against Black and Native American people when enforcing the law" and local residents' constitutional rights were frequently violated, according to the investigation.

Dangerous techniques and weapons against people who had committed at most a petty offense and sometimes no offense at all were used by the MPD, the investigation found, and it also used force to punish people who made officers angry or criticized the police.

"We found that the MPD routinely uses excessive force, often when no force is necessary, including unjust deadly force and unreasonable use of Tasers," said US Attorney General Merrick Garland at a press conference.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Derek Chauvin, a former police officer, was convicted of murdering George Floyd.

Floyd, an African-American man, died after being held in handcuffs while Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes on May 25, 2020. His death sparked outrage and protests across the United States against police brutality and systemic racism.