Ferguson police agree to overhaul policies, training

The Justice Department and officials from Ferguson, Missouri, have reached a tentative agreement on reforms in the police department and court system, according to a document released Wednesday by the city.

“The agreement also will ensure that the city’s stated commitment to refocusing police and municipal court practices on public safety, rather than revenue generation, takes root and will not be undone”, Ms. Gupta said in her letter. The cameras are said to be promoting accountability and are to be activated for all traffic stops, arrests, searches and encounters with people believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis.

The city would repeal laws like its “failure to comply” ordinance – which the Justice Department found was overwhelmingly used against black residents – and change its city code to make sure local laws are constitutional and fairly applied.

The deal, which requires ratification by the City Council, would require new training for police officers and improved record-keeping.

The Justice Department intervened in the wake of the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African-American whose death sparked nationwide protests over the mistreatment of blacks by police.

The agreement also goes on to create guidelines that focus on reorienting “Ferguson’s use-of-force policies toward de-escalation and avoiding force” in a complete overhaul of the municipal system, as well as requiring police to utilize body-worn cameras, NPR reported.

Ferguson’s city council plans to vote on February 9 on whether to accept the agreement and will accept public comments in writing and at public meetings before the vote.

Protesters gather after an announcement that police officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in November 2014.

The recommendations comes after seven months of negotiations and likely averts a civil rights lawsuit that federal officials have the option to bring against departments that resist changing their policing practices. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a letter to the council that “We remain hopeful that the city Council will approve the Agreement and that we will not have to resort to contested litigation”.

The Justice Department released a report in March, concluding Ferguson’s police officers routinely engaged in misconduct, racial bias and a disregard for the community.

The agreement with the Justice Department helps put the city on a more credible and accountable footing with residents.

As a result of the consent decree, Ferguson would be spared an expensive, lengthy court battle.

The city’s statement called the deal “the best agreement that the city’s representatives were able to obtain for the citizens”.