Hartford officials and plaintiffs in a 1969 civil rights lawsuit against city police have agreed to extend federal oversight of the police department for another two years. It might be one of the longest-running cases of its kind in the country.
The lawsuit in federal court accused police of inflicting violence, intimidation and humiliation upon Hartford citizens based on race and ethnicity and it resulted in a 1973 consent decree as well as federal oversight requiring improvements in the police department.
The decree was to expire Oct. 31, but plaintiffs alleged police were still not complying. City councilors also want the decree stay in place until the police department hires more minorities.
Nearly two-thirds of the department is white, while more than 80 percent of city residents are black and Hispanic.
