Police department behind Elijah McClain's death found to have a pattern of racially biased policing, probe finds

A civil rights investigation following the death of Elijah McClain found the Aurora Police Department displayed patterns of racially biased policing and excessive use of force, Colorado's attorney general said Wednesday.

"These actions are unacceptable," Attorney General Phil Weiser said. "They hurt the people that law enforcement is entrusted to protect, and they destroy community trust."

Weiser said the investigation found that officers regularly applied more force than warranted without giving residents enough time to respond to commands. He said most of the underlying reasons behind these "failures" are systemic and "severe cultural challenges" created by several factors, including the department's police culture, flawed discipline policies and hiring issues.