"Pattern Of Practice" Federal Investigation Of Chicago Police Dept. Announced

"Building trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve is one of my highest priorities as Attorney General,"US Attorney General Loretta Lynch

Early Monday Dec. 7th, 2015 the head of the United States Dept. Of Justice, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, announced a "Pattern of Practice" Federal investigation into the Chicago Police Department on the heels of the ongoing federal investigation into the Laquan McDonald murder in which a Chicago Police Officer, Jason Van Dyke, the only one of eight officers on the scene gunned down the knife brandishing, 17 year old youth, shooting him 16 times.

In this case, the problem stems from not only a murder of a citizen by what appears to be use of excessive force by an officer, but also what could be deemed as obstruction of justice by officers at the scene who delivered reports (released Friday 12/4 evening) that are apparently in conflict with video and other evidence uncovered regarding the incident which took place on October 20th, 2014.

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Following the table of events, it seems that all persons charged with protecting citizens and holding both the officers and the system accountable, including former Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Cook County States Attorney Anita Alvarez, (who said that it often takes over a year for investigations such as this to complete) have failed in their duties to provide any substantive action and support to the citizens they are charged to serve.

It seems that none of this would have come to light if it had not been for a court order to make the video of the incident public and Chicago protetestors taking peaceful and effective demonstration to the next level by demonstrating and marching prior to, during and after Black Friday 2015. Some have speculated that the demonstrations themselves had an over $2 billion negative impact on Chicago brick and mortar retail business operations in the heart of the City's Michigan Ave. businesses over the post Thanksgiving holiday.

Notably, prior to a suit being filed, the City Of Chicago settled with the family of Laquan McDonald for $5 Million which gives fuel to the argument that all that anyone wanted was for this to go away without additional discovery.

How does the CPD treat citizens of various ethnic and racial makeup? Is their a systemic problem in the way that the Department handles its minority citizens? Will Mayor Rahm Emanuel finally step down? One thing is for sure, the federal investigation into department operations will tell the story that many may not have ever wanted to be told.

Blessed!