Justice Department Opens Investigation Into Chicago Police Department

Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Monday the launching of an investigation into the Chicago Police Department for possible civil rights and other violations.

The investigation comes as the police force is under intense scrutiny after the recent release of a video showing white police officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times.

Lynch said the investigation will focus on the department's "use of force, including its use of deadly force," as well as "accountability mechanisms" within the department itself.

Numerous state and community leaders have been clamoring for an investigation since the city was rocked by the McDonald shooting, which many say is emblematic of a much larger problem within the city.

Prosecutors have charged Van Dyke with first-degree murder in the 2014 shooting and Mayor Rahm Emanuel forced Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy to resign.

Last week, the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan wrote a letter to Lynch calling for a federal probe of the Chicago Police Department.

CBS Chicago reports Emanuel initially referred to Madigan's request as "misguided," but one day later appeared to change course, saying he is open to a federal probe of the department.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.