Chicago, IL, Jan. 13 — An investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice has determined that the Chicago Police Department often uses deadly force in ways that violate the country’s Constitution, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said here Friday.

The DoJ probe was launched after a white CPD officer was indicted for murder in the shooting death of African American teenager Laquan McDonald.

The department concluded that CPD officers “unnecessarily endanger themselves and result in unnecessary and avoidable uses of force,” pointing to “systemic deficiencies in training and accountability, including the failure … to conduct meaningful investigations of uses of force.”

In the McDonald case, officers lied in official reports, suppressed evidence and bullied witnesses in a bid to make the fatal shooting appear justified.

“One of my highest priorities as attorney general has been to ensure that every American enjoys police protection that is lawful, responsive, and transparent,” Lynch said at a press conference in Chicago.

“Sadly, our thorough investigation into the Chicago Police Department found that far too many residents of this proud city have not received that kind of policing,” she said.

Based on the report, the city of Chicago and the DoJ have agreed to cooperate in crafting an enforceable consent decree aimed at remedying the problems identified in the probe.

“With this announcement, we are laying the groundwork for the difficult but necessary work of building a stronger, safer, and more united Chicago for all who call it home,” Lynch said during the news conference, where she was joined by Windy City Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The release in November 2015 of a video documenting the Oct. 21, 2014, slaying of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald sparked an uproar in Chicago that led to the firing of the city’s police chief.

While police originally reported that McDonald, who was armed with a knife, was threatening officers, the dashcam video from one of the police cars shows he was walking away from the cops when the first shot was fired.

Officer Jason Van Dyke fired a total of 16 shots at McDonald, continuing to fire at him after the suspect was lying on the pavement.

The police and district attorney’s office refused to release the dashcam video until compelled by a court order. EFE