In 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigated complaints, pursuant its authority under 42 U.S.C. § 14141 alleging that command staff and officers of the Highland Park, Illinois Police Department (HPPD) were engaging in racial profiling and discriminatory law enforcement practices. That investigation coincided with a class action suit initiated in federal court by the ACLU, captioned Ledford v. City of Highland Park, No. 00 C 4212 (N.D. Ill.) That case resulted in the entry of a consent decree and is part of the clearinghouse collection at PN-IL-0002.

After the resolution of the Ledford litigation, the DOJ and HPPD entered into a Memorandum of Agreement which incorporated the terms of the Ledford consent decree, by reference. It stated: "This Memorandum of Agreement is enforceable through an action for specific performance in federal court."

The term of the Agreement was five years, or three years if the department was in compliance. Like the substantive terms, this provision was similar to the agreement in the Ledford case, and the Agreement expressly provided, "If the plaintiffs in Ledford, et al. v. City of Highland Park, No. 00 C 4212 (N.D. Ill. October 5, 2000), agree to terminate their Consent Decree after three years, the United States' agreement to terminate this Memorandum of Agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld."

Dan Dalton - 01/10/2007


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