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U.S. to decide soon on whether to investigate Baltimore police

Attorney General Loretta Lynch testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 7, 2015, before the Senate subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing to examine the proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2016 for the Justice Department. Lynch said she’ll decide soon whether the Justice Department will undertake a civil rights investigation into the Baltimore police department. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Attorney General Loretta Lynch testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 7, 2015, before the Senate subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing to examine the proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2016 for the Justice Department. Lynch said she’ll decide soon whether the Justice Department will undertake a civil rights investigation into the Baltimore police department. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

By Associated Press May 7, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Attorney General Loretta Lynch says she’ll decide soon whether the Justice Department will undertake a civil rights investigation into the Baltimore police department.

Lynch is testifying Thursday before a Senate subcommittee, her first appearance before Congress since being sworn in last week.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on Wednesday asked the Justice Department to investigate the policing practices of the entire city police force. The request followed the unrest that roiled the city after the death of a 25-year-old man who was severely injured in police custody.

Baltimore had already been participating in a voluntary Justice Department review, but Lynch told Congress that it’s possible more may need to be done.

She says she’s now in the process of considering the request for a full-fledged civil rights investigation.