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Cleveland reaches deal with Justice Department on policing, AP reports

Police in front of Progressive Field stand guard during demonstrations in reaction to Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo being acquitted of manslaughter charges after he shot two people at the end of a 2012 car chase in which officers fired 137 shots.

Police in front of Progressive Field stand guard during demonstrations in reaction to Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo being acquitted of manslaughter charges after he shot two people at the end of a 2012 car chase in which officers fired 137 shots.

(Ricky Rhodes / Getty Images)
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A senior federal law enforcement official says Cleveland has reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over a pattern of excessive force and civil rights violations by the city’s police department.

News of the settlement comes two days after a white police officer was acquitted of manslaughter for shooting 15 rounds through the windshield of a car carrying two black suspects in 2012. The case prompted an 18-month investigation by the Justice Department. The findings were released in December.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly of the settlement ahead of the official announcement, expected this week, and spoke on condition of anonymity.

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The Justice Department report cited examples of patrol officers who unnecessarily endangered lives by shooting at suspects and using stun guns on handcuffed suspects.

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