US to Change Police Methods after Murder Decision
2021-04-22
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1The U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation into the policing methods of the Minneapolis police department Wednesday.
2The action came one day after former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of George Floyd's murder in a trial in the city.
3The move is the first major investigation called for by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
4He said the investigation would try to find out whether the Minneapolis police department, or MPD, "engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing."
5Garland said the investigation will look into the department's use of force, including force against protestors.
6It will also study police treatment of those with behavioral health problems.
7Garland said, "The Justice Department has already begun to reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with the MPD."
8Federal investigators, he added, will also talk to officers about training and the support they receive.
9Former officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder Tuesday in the death of George Floyd.
10Chauvin had pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes.
11Floyd's death led to nationwide protests against racism and policing practices in the United States and other countries.
12President Joe Biden called the verdict "a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America."
13But he also said the jury's decision was "much too rare."
14Biden said several things came together in this case, including the video, the witnesses and police official statements in court, for the jury to reach the murder verdict.
15"It feels like it took all of that for the judicial system to deliver a just, basic accountability, " Biden said.
16Vice President Kamala Harris joined Biden Tuesday.
17She called on the Senate to pass a federal policing bill that has already been passed by the House.
18The bill is named George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
19 It calls for bans on chokeholds, a police method of restraining a suspect by the neck.
20It also would ban raids called no-knock warrants in which police do not announce their presence.
21Last March, a Black woman, Breonna Taylor, was shot and killed by police who entered the wrong house using a no-knock warrant.
22The bill also requires police officers to stop others from using too much force and create a national list of police wrongdoing.
23The bill seeks to end "qualified immunity", a legal idea that restricts charging police officers for incidents that take place on the job.
24Many Republican senators opposed this part of the bill in the Senate. Democrats and Republicans have an equal support in the Senate.
25The Republicans argued that such changes would harm officers acting in good faith.
26Tim Scott is a Republican senator from the state of South Carolina.
27He told reporters that he would introduce a related proposal in the coming weeks.
28Scott wanted to put more responsibility in police departments than individuals when a police officer is accused of wrongdoing.
29The outcry from the video of Floyd repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe..." has led to changes in public opinion about police methods.
30It also led to new laws in several cities and states.
31In an opinion study after Floyd's death last May, the Gallup organization reported that a majority of Americans, 58 percent, said major changes are needed to make policing better.
32Another 36 percent say small changes are needed.
33Preventing excessive use of force and holding police officers responsible for wrongdoing were among the ideas receiving public support.
34Ballotpedia is an independent organization that informs the public of political issues and elections around the U.S.
35The organization says that 100 cities and states have made changes to policing policy as a result of Floyd's death.
36Many states, from California to Connecticut, passed laws to ban chokeholds.
37The National Conference of State Legislatures reported there are 471 bills being considered in 47 state legislatures to deal with the issues of policing and use of force.
38In his speech, Biden recalled his talk with George Floyd's daughter, Gianna.
39He said she told him last year that "Daddy changed the world."
40After the verdict, Biden called Floyd's family and he told Gianna that "Daddy did change the world."
41I'm John Russell.
1The U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation into the policing methods of the Minneapolis police department Wednesday. 2The action came one day after former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of George Floyd's murder in a trial in the city. 3The move is the first major investigation called for by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. He said the investigation would try to find out whether the Minneapolis police department, or MPD, "engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing." 4Garland said the investigation will look into the department's use of force, including force against protestors. It will also study police treatment of those with behavioral health problems. 5Garland said, "The Justice Department has already begun to reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with the MPD." Federal investigators, he added, will also talk to officers about training and the support they receive. 6Former officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder Tuesday in the death of George Floyd. Chauvin had pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes. Floyd's death led to nationwide protests against racism and policing practices in the United States and other countries. 7Floyd's death could change police practice 8President Joe Biden called the verdict "a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America." But he also said the jury's decision was "much too rare." 9Biden said several things came together in this case, including the video, the witnesses and police official statements in court, for the jury to reach the murder verdict. 10"It feels like it took all of that for the judicial system to deliver a just, basic accountability, " Biden said. 11Vice President Kamala Harris joined Biden Tuesday. She called on the Senate to pass a federal policing bill that has already been passed by the House. 12The bill is named George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It calls for bans on chokeholds, a police method of restraining a suspect by the neck. It also would ban raids called no-knock warrants in which police do not announce their presence. 13Last March, a Black woman, Breonna Taylor, was shot and killed by police who entered the wrong house using a no-knock warrant. The bill also requires police officers to stop others from using too much force and create a national list of police wrongdoing. 14The bill seeks to end "qualified immunity", a legal idea that restricts charging police officers for incidents that take place on the job. Many Republican senators opposed this part of the bill in the Senate. Democrats and Republicans have an equal support in the Senate. The Republicans argued that such changes would harm officers acting in good faith. 15Tim Scott is a Republican senator from the state of South Carolina. He told reporters that he would introduce a related proposal in the coming weeks. Scott wanted to put more responsibility in police departments than individuals when a police officer is accused of wrongdoing. 16Around the country 17The outcry from the video of Floyd repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe..." has led to changes in public opinion about police methods. It also led to new laws in several cities and states. 18In an opinion study after Floyd's death last May, the Gallup organization reported that a majority of Americans, 58 percent, said major changes are needed to make policing better. Another 36 percent say small changes are needed. 19Preventing excessive use of force and holding police officers responsible for wrongdoing were among the ideas receiving public support. 20Ballotpedia is an independent organization that informs the public of political issues and elections around the U.S. The organization says that 100 cities and states have made changes to policing policy as a result of Floyd's death. Many states, from California to Connecticut, passed laws to ban chokeholds. 21The National Conference of State Legislatures reported there are 471 bills being considered in 47 state legislatures to deal with the issues of policing and use of force. 22In his speech, Biden recalled his talk with George Floyd's daughter, Gianna. He said she told him last year that "Daddy changed the world." After the verdict, Biden called Floyd's family and he told Gianna that "Daddy did change the world." 23I'm John Russell. 24Hai Do wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 25______________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27engage in -v. to do 28pattern -n. a repeated or regular way in which something happens or is done 29practice -n. something that is done often or regularly 30verdict -n. the decision of a jury in a trial 31We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.