The Department of Justice has officially launched a review of the North Charleston police department in South Carolina, but unlike reviews we've seen in other cities, the city of North Charleston actually asked for this.
Not many city governments are as anxious and willing to look for where all the bodies are buried as North Charleston is.
From the Associated Press:
Chief Noble Wray of the Justice Department's Community Oriented Policing Services office, or COPS, said the review was requested by the community and city officials and will cost up to $600,000.
Wray said there'll be recommendations in about six months on suggested improvements in the department.
"It's an opportunity for us to look at ourselves by having other people look at us," Mayor Keith Summey said.
This is a far cry from the not-so-welcome greeting the Justice Department received in the city of Ferguson, Missouri where the city government had to be forced to cooperate.
As you may recall, North Charleston is where Walter Scott was shot in the back and killed as he ran away from former police officer Michael Slager. Slager is facing federal civil rights charges in addition to murder charges.
The Justice Department will review racial disparities in enforcement of the law and the racial makeup of the police force, but results of the review won't be published until next year.
If Republicans ever retake the White House, one of the first things they will do is shut down the Justice Department's civil rights division and community policing programs. Under the George W. Bush administration, the Justice Department did nothing but chase phantom terrorists. Republicans would like to keep it that way.