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United States says Ronald Greene's death showed Louisiana authorities used excessive force

The fatal 2019 arrest of unarmed Black driver Ronald Greene and its consequences demonstrated severe failures at Louisiana State Cops like the use of excessive force and breakdowns in accountability, the U.S. Justice Department said in a report dated Thursday.

WHY IT is necessary

Greene, 49, passed away in May 2019 on a roadside in rural northern Louisiana after a violent conflict with officers that followed a high-speed cars and truck chase. His death even more fueled a. national dispute over cops brutality, especially versus Black. guys.

Authorities initially stated Greene had actually passed away driving his automobile but. body-camera footage that was eventually revealed exposed the. white officers dragging and beating Greene who was screaming in. worry.

KEY PRICES QUOTE

Mr. Greene's death and its aftermath showed severe. failures at LSP-- extreme force, improper supervision,. inadequate training, and breakdowns in accountability, the. Justice Department stated.

These failures were not separated, but part of a bigger. pattern or practice of police conduct that deprives. people in Louisiana of their rights under the Constitution, the. 32-page report included.

The report stated the Justice Department has affordable. cause to think that the Louisiana State Cops engage in a. statewide pattern or practice of utilizing extreme force.

Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry criticized the. report stating it tried to reduce the service and. exceptionality of LSP.

Robert Hodges, the state cops superintendent, said in an. internal email reported by the Associated Press that the report. highlighted isolated occurrences that were not a reasonable. assessment of the cops.

CONTEXT

The Justice Department report did not say whether it. would take any action.

The report stated the Justice Department checked out whether. the police engaged in racial discrimination but at this time it. made findings only as to excessive force.

Greene's household said on Tuesday they were told federal. prosecutors would not bring charges in his death.

The Justice Department report acknowledged that cops had. made some reforms after Greene's death that resulted in enhancements. but urged more reforms like enhanced training, especially on. use of force to lay focus on less intrusive options. before utilizing force.

(source: Reuters)