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US Justice Department to Look Into Racial Bias in Law Enforcement: Reports

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The US Justice Department is launching a study into racial bias in law enforcement structures in five American cities, to be selected later, US Attorney General Eric Holder revealed in an interview with the Associated Press.

MOSCOW, September 17 (RIA Novosti) – The US Justice Department is launching a study into racial bias in law enforcement structures in five American cities, to be selected later, US Attorney General Eric Holder revealed in an interview with the Associated Press.

"What I saw in Ferguson confirmed for me that the need for such an effort was pretty clear," Holder said Tuesday.

The attorney general noted that the three-year project, which will involve training, data analysis and interviews with community residents, could be a "silver lining" if it helps ease racial tensions and "pockets of distrust that show up between law enforcement and the communities that they serve."

Holder, who visited Ferguson last month, said the death of 18-year-old African-American Michael Brown, who was shot at by a white Ferguson police officer, has significantly affected the city residents" perception of local law enforcement.

"The reality is that it certainly had a negative impact on people's view of the effectiveness and fairness of the police department," Holder said.

"Studies show that if people think that they are treated fairly by the police, that matters almost more than what the result is," The attorney general noted. "If you get stopped for a traffic stop and feel that you are treated courteously and fairly, you are much more likely to accept the fact that you got a speeding ticket," he explained.

On September 4, the US Justice Department announced that it was launching a civil rights investigation into the Ferguson and other St. Louis County police departments.

Ferguson was swept by a wave of violent protests following the death of Michael Brown, as the suburb's residents demanded the arrest of the police officer who shot at Brown on August 9.

In order to suppress protesters, Ferguson police officers used armored vehicles, high-technology weaponry and stun grenades, according to media reports.

Tactics used by US police came under sharp criticism, including from US Attorney General Eric Holder.

Following public criticism, Obama ordered to review programs of military equipment sales to local police departments.

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