NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A U.S. Justice Department investigation into a suburban police department in Connecticut has found a pattern of discrimination against Latino residents in violation of their constitutional rights and federal law.
The investigation in East Haven was launched in September 2009 and the results released Monday. It was prompted by allegations of biased policing, unconstitutional searches and seizures and use of excessive force.
The Justice Department's civil rights division alleges that the department intentionally targets Latinos for traffic enforcement and treats Latino drivers more harshly after stops.
A separate criminal investigation by the FBI is under way. It could lead to indictments of individual officers in the New Haven suburb.
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