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Cincinnati signs pact with U.S. over police

Ashcroft: An opportunity for Cincinnati residents and police "to move forward together."

CINCINNATI, Ohio (CNN) -- A year after Cincinnati was rocked by race riots, Attorney General John Ashcroft visited the city Friday to sign an agreement that puts limits on the use of force by the police department.

The agreement specifies new policies on when and how police officers should use force, when and how they can engage in foot pursuits and how they deal with those who are mentally ill.

It also improves the procedures used in investigating complaints of police use of force and of police misconduct.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to announce this unprecedented agreement between the Justice Department and the city of Cincinnati that improves law enforcement and helps prevent the kind of tragic deaths of citizens and police officers that have caused so much pain in Cincinnati during the past several years," Ashcroft said at the signing ceremony.

The Department of Justice launched a yearlong federal investigation into a "pattern or practice" of civil rights violations after a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black man April 7, 2001.

The death of Timothy Thomas sparked four days of disturbances resulting in widespread property damage. Dozens of people were injured, and more than 800 were arrested.

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Civil rights leaders said anger in the African-American community erupted after years of abuse by the police department. Thomas, 19, was the 15th black suspect killed by police since 1995.

Ashcroft said that by signing the agreement, the city avoids being taken to court by the Justice Department.

"Rather than protracted, contested and costly litigation, this agreement represents the best opportunity for the city of Cincinnati, its residents, and its police department to move forward together," he said.

Despite cooperative efforts, negotiations were not always smooth. Some city officials and civil rights groups initially balked at signing the agreement.

Mayor Charles Luken and representatives of the City Council, Fraternal Order of Police, NAACP, ACLU, and the local Black United Front all joined Ashcroft for the signing ceremony.

Cincinnati's police force has about 1,000 officers and support personnel. African-Americans account for about 43 percent of the city's population of 330,000.