In response Response to the shooting Use_firearm and subsequent unrest , the U.S. Department of Justice ( DOJ ) conducted Action an investigation into the policing practices of the Ferguson Police Department ( FPD ) .

In March 2015 , the DOJ announced Expressing_publicly that they had determined Deciding that the FPD had engaged Participation in misconduct Action against the citizenry of Ferguson by among other things discriminating Judgment_communication against African Americans and applying Using racial stereotypes , in a `` pattern or practice Practice of unlawful conduct Action . ''