WASHINGTON (AP) – Six months after 18-year-old Michael Brown died in the street in Ferguson, Missouri, the Justice Department is close to announcing its findings in the racially charged police shooting that launched “hands up, don’t shoot” protests across the nation.
The federal government has undertaken two separate investigations. One looks at whether criminal charges should be filed against the officer involved in the shooting, Darren Wilson. The other is a broader examination of the city’s police department, including a search for discriminatory practices by officers.
Attorney General Eric Holder, the nation’s first black to hold that office, has made civil rights a cornerstone of his six-year tenure. He says he expects to release results in both investigations before he leaves office, which means announcements could be coming within days. Here’s a look at where things stand:
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THE FERGUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT