Springfield city councilors call for U.S. Department of Justice to issue consent decree to force police department reforms
Updated Feb 02, 2021;
SPRINGFIELD A group of current and former city councilors sent a letter Tuesday urging the U.S. Department of Justice to mandate reforms in the city’s police department in the wake of a report by the agency alleging a pattern of excessive force and misconduct by narcotics officers.
The letter called for the Department of Justice issue a consent decree to make recommendations from the July 2020 report binding.
“While we appreciate the thorough investigation undertaken by your office to reveal a pattern or practice of excessive force by the Police Department and are in complete support of your recommendations for increased accountability and training, we are not convinced that this can be achieved with fidelity and a sense of urgency unless there is substantial oversight from your department,” the councilors wrote.