Case: DOJ Investigation of Riverside Police Department

No Court

Filed Date: March 5, 2001

Closed Date: 2006

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Case Summary

After the fatal police shooting of a black teenager on December 28, 1998, the Department of Justice launched a civil investigation into the Riverside Police Department's use of force and treatment of minorities on July 8, 1999. The investigation was conducted jointly with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. This partnership was likely due to the simultaneous announcement of the formation of a Civil Rights Section within the U.S. Attorney's Office with the launch of this investigation. Th…

After the fatal police shooting of a black teenager on December 28, 1998, the Department of Justice launched a civil investigation into the Riverside Police Department's use of force and treatment of minorities on July 8, 1999. The investigation was conducted jointly with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. This partnership was likely due to the simultaneous announcement of the formation of a Civil Rights Section within the U.S. Attorney's Office with the launch of this investigation.

The offices began the investigation to determine whether the police department has engaged in a pattern or practice of law enforcement misconduct, including using excessive force and discriminating in the way it provides police services. This case was complicated by the fact the Riverside Police Department had been receiving financial assistance from the Justice Department, which made it additionally prohibited from engaging in discriminatory misconduct.

On March 5, 2001, the Office of the Attorney General filed a complaint and stipulated judgment in People of the State of California v. City of Riverside. The judgment, which remained in effect for a period of five years, required the Riverside Police Department to implement reforms in the areas of training, supervision, and accountability. The City of Riverside was required to pay the cost of a consultant to assist the Attorney General in monitoring compliance with the terms of the judgment.

On March 2, 2006, the Attorney General, after concluding that the Riverside Police Department had fulfilled the conditions of the judgment, requested and received formal approval from the court for the judgment's dissolution.

It does not appear that the Department of Justice took any further actions after the initial joint investigation.

Summary Authors

Ginny Lee (4/5/2017)

Related Cases

People of the State of California v. City of Riverside, California state trial court (2001)

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Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:41 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Policing

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 5, 2001

Closing Date: 2006

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Riverside Police Department, City

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act, 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 14141)

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2001 - 2006

Issues

General:

Failure to discipline

Failure to supervise

Failure to train

Racial profiling

Policing:

Excessive force

Inadequate citizen complaint investigations and procedures

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination