South Carolina town where black man shot asks U.S. for police help
Source: Reuters
World | Fri Apr 22, 2016 5:14pm EDT
South Carolina town where black man shot asks U.S. for police help
The South Carolina city where a white police officer shot dead an unarmed black man one year ago said on Friday it has asked the U.S. government for a review of its police force, a trust-building step that has won praise from civil rights lawyers.
North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Police Chief Eddie Driggers on Thursday requested aid from the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), a city spokesman said in an email.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc (LDF) and South Carolina civil rights leaders welcomed the development.
"We remain steadfast in our belief that a federal pattern or practice investigation is necessary to adequately uncover and address any policing practices that have violated the civil rights of North Charleston residents," the fund said in a statement on Friday.
North Charleston still simmers with racial tension a year later as black residents say they continue to be harassed and humiliated by law enforcement.
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