The US Department of Justice has ordered a review of federal agreements with law enforcement agencies that reflect President Trump’s emphasis on law and order and the fears are that it could lead to a retreat on consent decrees with troubled police departments nationwide.
A consent decree is an agreement or settlement that resolves a dispute between two parties without admission of guilt in a criminal case or liability in a civil case.
The Justice Department is moving too fast, according to officials in cities with federal consent decrees. The city of Ferguson's federal consent decree is among those Attorney General Jeff Sessions wants to review http://www.tinyurl.com/l4f96ea
The response to the Justice Department’s reevaluation of policing agreements was fierce. In Baltimore, the police commissioner said his force was “absolutely dedicated” to the reforms. http://fw.to/mPYZT9U
In Seattle, the city attorney said the feds can’t undo the consent decree there. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/Sessions-orders-review-…
No change to decree here, either, said New Orleans’s police monitor. http://s.nola.com/4yHK1RZ
Asked Tucson police chief: If it’s not the responsibility of the federal government to manage police departments than why are the feds demanding that local police enforce immigration law? https://n.pr/2onhSJT
Police unions, meanwhile, were gleeful at the news from Washington. https://nyti.ms/2nVgN97