Justice Department to investigate SF Police, as protests over Mario Woods killing continue

As protests continue over the death of Mario Woods, who was shot and killed by an SFPD cop in December, the Justice Department announces it will conduct a “comprehensive review” of the San Francisco Police Department.

A cellphone video of the police killing the 26-year-old black man was released online in December, and widely viewed. Protests in San Francisco followed, and have continued. On Saturday, hundreds marched in the SF streets, calling for San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr to be fired.

San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr walks through Super Bowl City in SF, Jan. 27, 2016. [REUTERS/Noah Berger]

In another recent incident separate from the Mario Woods shooting death, a group of SFPD officers sent homophobic and racist text messages to one another.

From Reuters:

Although the American Civil Liberties Union had asked for a federal investigation into the San Francisco Police Department following the death of Mario Woods, 26, at the hands of police, the review will only result in recommendations, not court-enforceable reforms.

"We will examine the San Francisco Police Department's current operational policies, training practices and accountability systems, and help identify key areas for improvement going forward," Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

At the conclusion of the review, the Justice Department will give San Francisco police a list of best practices it can follow to insure fairness in its interactions with citizens. San Francisco police will then report back to the Justice Department on a periodic basis to show it is following the practices, a Justice Department official said.