Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Monday that the Department of Justice would launch a civil investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department’s patterns and practices. 

Watch live at 1:30pm ET: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to Deliver Remarks https://t.co/VOabbFCPRW

— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) April 26, 2021

The goal is to ensure that policing policies in the city are “constitutional and lawful.” 

AG Garland: “The Department of Justice is opening a civil investigation into the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government and the Louisville Metro Police Department to determine whether LMPD engages in a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution or federal law.” pic.twitter.com/k8KOuAhW0G

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) April 26, 2021

RELATED: Louisville to probe handling of Breonna Taylor shooting 

Garland said the Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Louisville Police Chief Erika Shields are cooperating with the investigation. 

The police department came under scrutiny after the death of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police while she lay sleeping in her apartment last year.

This announcement comes less than one week after Garland announced an investigation into the policies of the Minneapolis Police Department. 

Attornies Ben Crump, Sam Aguiar and Lonita Baker released a statement about Garland’s announcement saying they are hopeful that the investigation will reveal the “ugly patterns and practices of the Louisville law enforcement.”

NEWS ALERT: @AttorneyCrump and co-counsel Sam Aguiar and Lonita Baker release statement following Attorney General Merrick Garland’s announcement of a DOJ civil investigation into @LMPD. pic.twitter.com/bWoLIzOvjs

— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) April 27, 2021

RELATED: DOJ launches investigation into Minneapolis’ policing policies

This is a developing story that will be updated. 

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by police violence, resources are available to you here.