By By DAVE COLLINS Associated
Press Published: November 16, 2014, 11:45 am
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Hartford
officials and plaintiffs in a 1969 civil rights lawsuit against city police
have agreed to extend federal oversight of the police department for another
two years. It may be one of the longest-running cases of its kind in the
country.
The lawsuit in federal court
accused police of inflicting violence, intimidation and humiliation upon
Hartford citizens based on race and ethnicity. It resulted in a 1973 consent
decree and federal oversight requiring improvements in the police department.
The decree was to expire Oct.
31, but plaintiffs’ alleged police were still not complying. City councilors
also want the decree stay in place until the police department hires more
minorities.
Nearly two-thirds of the
department is white, while more than 80 percent of city residents are black and
Hispanic.
