U.S.- agency sues Ohio police forceJustice Department alleges rights abuses
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The US. Justice Department sued the Columbus Police Department on Thursday, accusing it of a pattern of 91
civil rights abuses that included excessive force, false arrests and improper searches.
The government said it reviewed more than 300 complaints before making Columbus only the third US. city to be threatened with a lawsuit by the department's Civil Rights Division under a 1994 federal law.
Steubenville, Ohio, and Pittsburgh reached agreements known as consent decrees in which they promised to correct problems in the training, supervision and discipline of officers.
The lawsuit against the 1,700 member Columbus department demands improvements in the training and supervision of police officers and the investigation of civilian complaints.
Among other things, the Justice Department accused the Columbus department of falsely arresting or charging people who saw police misconduct or were believed likely to complain of Misconduct. "These are serious allegations, but that's all they are," city attorney Janet Jackson said. She said she doesn't believe Justice &an prove a pattern of abusive conduct.
Fraternal Order of -Police President William Capretta said the union is willing to negotiate a settlement, but not in the form of a -consent decree - an agreement that would grant the federal _government oversight authority.