Cleveland mayor plans news conference about US Department of Justice probe of city's police

The mayor of Cleveland has called a news conference to discuss a U.S. Justice Department report that strongly criticizes the city's police for a pattern and practice of using excessive force and violating people's civil rights.

Mayor Frank Jackson scheduled the news conference for Thursday morning.

He was among those who asked for the Justice Department's investigation that began in March 2013. Jackson has signed an agreement that calls for his administration to work with the Justice Department to create a police reform plan. A federal judge must approve it.

The mayor said at a news conference with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder last week that he didn't agree with all the findings in the federal report but that he's committed to improving the 1,500-member department.