In the aftermath of the police shooting of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant last week, city officials in Columbus, Ohio have requested the Department of Justice to conduct an investigation into the Columbus Police’s procedures and actions.
The Associated Press reports that Mayor Andrew Ginther and City Attorney Zach Klein, both Democrats, asked the DoJ to conduct the r after a series of incidents where people of color died in police custody and other interactions with the public that caused people to question the management of the agency.
“This is not about one particular officer, policy, or incident; rather, this is about reforming the entire institution of policing in Columbus,” Ginther and Klein said in Wednesday’s letter requesting the probe. “Simply put: We need to change the culture of the Columbus Division of Police.”
Typically, such intervention by the federal government happens after a significant event like the George Floyd homicide or the Rodney King beating. It’s rare for the government to proactively request an investigation.