CHICAGO — The U.S. Justice Department will start tracking police shootings and other incidents of officers using force against civilians, Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Thursday.
The United States government doesn't track police shootings and other use of force incidents, but has taken steps in recent years after high profile incidents, including the November release of the Laquan McDonald police shooting video.
“Accurate and comprehensive data on the use of force by law enforcement is essential to an informed and productive discussion about community-police relations,” Lynch said in a statement.
The FBI announced it would start a nationwide pilot next year that includes the "largest law enforcement agencies," though didn't name the Chicago Police Department specifically.
CPD has been under Justice Department investigation since the release of the video.
Last week, CPD announced plans to change their use of force police, inviting city residents to give their input.
Recently testifying before Congress, FBI director James Comey was asked about police shootings but said "even some of the most basic questions are hard to answer" and "we can't have an open discussion because we don't have the data."
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