### Justice Department Reverses Course on Minneapolis and Louisville Police Cases

In a notable shift, the Justice Department has decided to withdraw its cases against the police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky. This change in strategy includes stepping back from the use of consent decrees, which have been utilized to enforce accountability within law enforcement agencies.

This decision comes just days before the five-year anniversary of George Floyd's tragic death in Minnesota. Floyd died after being pinned to the ground for over nine minutes by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, who was later convicted on charges of murder and federal civil rights violations. Floyd's death sparked widespread protests against racial injustice and police brutality across the nation.

Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, announced this shift, stating that the move is not related to the anniversary of Floyd's death but is instead driven by upcoming deadlines in ongoing court cases. Dhillon criticized the previous administration's approach, suggesting that the consent decrees imposed by the Biden Justice Department were unjustified and hampered local law enforcement effectively.

Moreover, the Justice Department has decided to close investigations into police conduct in six other jurisdictions. Dhillon emphasized that while she believes the majority of police officers and departments operate within the bounds of the law, the department will still take necessary actions, including criminal prosecutions, to address any civil rights or constitutional violations.

This reversal marks the end of what Dhillon described as a "failed experiment" aimed at reforming police practices through federal intervention, signaling a significant change in the federal government's approach to policing oversight.