UPDATE: Governor John Bel Edwards and State Police Commander Lamar Davis have issued statements on the announcement today that a federal civil rights investigation has been launched into LSP.
"I welcome the U.S Department of Justice’s civil investigation into the patterns and practices of Louisiana State Police. It is deeply troubling that allegations of systemic misconduct exist that would warrant this type of investigation, but it is absolutely critical that all Louisianans, especially African Americans and other people of color, have their faith, confidence, and trust in public safety officers restored," Edwards said. "This investigation is one part of that process. I share the Department of Justice’s goal of ensuring that Louisiana State Police are policing in a constitutional way. It is my expectation that all employees of the Louisiana State Police will cooperate fully and completely with this investigation. It is my commitment and that of Col. Lamar Davis to the U.S. Department of Justice that they will have complete cooperation from the agency. I am confident in the leadership of Col. Davis, who has already made great strides in reforming the agency.
"While I firmly believe that the vast majority of Louisiana State Police troopers meet the professional standards of law enforcement officers and protect and serve honorably, when some do not, our people, communities, and state suffer. Working together, I am confident that Louisiana State Police will continue to make positive changes so that all of our people can feel protected and safe.”
Col. Lamar Davis said:
“Since accepting the position of Louisiana State Police Superintendent, I have vowed to regain the trust of our citizens, our law enforcement partners, our political leaders, and the men and women of our agency. The Department of Public Safety is comprised of over a 1,000 dedicated men and women within our commissioned ranks. Each of them display selfless service, courage, and integrity on a daily basis. Our personnel truly make a difference in our communities and I am grateful for the sacrifices they make on behalf of public safety. That does not change the fact that we have had some employees violate the trust of our citizens and of their colleagues. When that occurs, it is incumbent upon our agency to uphold our public safety oath and make the changes necessary to ensure that this does not ever happen again.
"With today’s announcement of a Federal Civil Rights investigation, our agency will continue to offer our full cooperation as we have done with all investigations over the last several years. No one is more committed to implementing positive change within our agency than our own personnel who work tirelessly each day to provide professional public safety services to the state of Louisiana.
"As our agency moves forward, we have taken great strides in amending policies such as banning chokeholds, banning the use of impact weapons to the head and neck, instituting a duty to intervene policy, and defining accountability for supervisors to review, track, and report excessive force incidents. Implicit bias training is already in effect and de-escalation/duty to intervene training will begin this year. These improvements and reforms affect every aspect of our department and are only possible through the dedicated efforts of our Troopers, DPS Police Officers, and support staff. These steps are vital to ensuring that we provide the best services and constitutional policing possible to the communities we serve," Thomas said. "We remain committed to the reform process through continued coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice and community stakeholders. Through this coordination, we will continue to implement critical changes within Louisiana State Police and build trust within our communities.”
As we reported earlier, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice announced today that a civil "Pattern or Practice" investigation onto the operations of Louisiana State Police.
It is the first such state-wide investigation launched in more than 20 years, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division.
The probe will focus on two areas, she said.
"First, whether the Louisiana State Police has a pattern or practice of using excessive force, and second, whether the Louisiana State Police engages in racially discriminatory policing practices against black people and other people of color," Clarke said.
"As in every Department of Justice investigation, we will follow the facts and the law, where ever they lead. We have no pre-formed conclusions. If there is reasonable cause to believe there is a policy or practice violation, we will issue a public report outlining our conclusions," Clarke continued. "If violations are found, we will work with the state to reach an agreement with the best remedies. If an agreement can't be reached, we are authorized to bring a civil lawsuit to seek injunctive relief."
Clarke said an "extensive review of publicly available information" revealed "significant justification to open this investigation now."
That information reveals troopers repeatedly using excessive force, often against people suspected of minor traffic offenses, against people who already were handcuffed and/or people who were not resisting, Clarke said. Some of the injuries these people suffered were severe, and at least one person has died, she added.
There are reports that troopers target black residents in traffic enforcement and in the use of force, Clarke said, which is especially concerning since Louisiana has the second-highest percent of black residents in the country at 33 percent.
She said there are reports of unwarranted force after traffic pursuits, and the use of racial slurs and racially derogatory terms. The investigation, which both Gov. John Bel Edwards and LSP Commander Col. Lamar A. Davis have both promised to cooperate with, will be "thorough and comprehensive," Clarke said.
The investigation will be conducted in cooperation with all three of Louisiana's U.S. Attorney's offices, Clarke said. Indeed, the U.S. Attorneys in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lafayette/Shreveport offices were also at the presser and each made statements.
Clarke said investigators want to hear from community members and plan to review incident reports, body-worn camera footage,
LSP policies, training materials and supervision records; documents related to systems of accountability, in other words how complaints are investigated and how discipline is imposed.
The investigators are opening email and voice mail lines so folks can submit information directly to them, and also will participate in ride-alongs with law enforcement to ensure they understand how interactions between troopers and the community take place, Clarke said.
Here's the original story, reported earlier today: BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Officials: Justice Department to open investigation of Louisiana State Police after beatings of mostly Black men.
Our media partners at The Advocate are reporting that top U.S. Justice Department officials from Louisiana and Washington, D.C. are scheduled to appear at an 11 a.m. news conference in Baton Rouge today to announce “the opening of a civil rights investigation.”
A news release did not specify the nature of the investigation, only that it involves Louisiana. Speculation in legal circles surrounded a possible federal pattern-or-practice probe into Louisiana State Police. All three U.S. attorneys from Louisiana are scheduled to appear, along with Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the DOJ's civil rights division, The Advocate is reporting.
The Legislative Black Caucus and other critics for months have clamored for a wide-ranging federal probe into constitutional policing at the state’s premier law enforcement agency, after grim details of the fatal May 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene and allegations of a coverup became public last year.
To read The Advocate's full story click here.
