WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department warned the people of Louisiana on Thursday that members of its State Police engage in a pattern of law enforcement practices that deprives them of their rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Findings announced after a "pattern and practice investigation" Thursday afternoon said the agency routinely uses excessive force, including the unjustified use of Tasers, and escalates minor incidents involving people who do not pose a threat. The entire report is available at the Justice Department website.

Among other findings, the Justice Department said the agency uses unreasonable force without warning and without giving people an opportunity to comply with directions. It also found troopers used force on people in handcuffs and on people accused only of misdemeanors.

In one case, investigators highlighted what happened to a 25-year-old woman suffering from a mental health crisis while holding a child. Tased once, she fell to the ground and was surrounded by eight officers. "With no warning, an LSP trooper tased the woman a second time in front of the crying child," the investigators found.

In a brief statement issued with its report, the Justice Department noted the agency is reforming itself and has made changes in its use-of-force policy, but it says more work must be done.

Gov. Jeff Landry said the report "seeks to diminish the service and exceptionality" of the State Police.

"We will not let that happen," Landry said, without offering specifics. "The reputation of our men and women in blue is one of respect, admiration, and appreciation, and we will always have their back."

The Justice Department announced its investigation in 2022 and the report was released just after the department said it would not file criminal charges following the death of motorist Ronald Greene.

The investigators blamed poor supervision of troopers, noting that the agency doesn't do meaningful reviews following the use of force. It also said training modules "encourage aggressive behavior and escalate encounters."

The report's executive summary details Greene's traffic stop in northern Louisiana on May 19, 2019. Police officers chased Greene for 14 minutes until he crashed, then punched him, dragged him by his ankles and left him face down in the road.

When a supervisor arrived, he stepped over Greene and checked on how the officers were doing. "None of the troopers rendered aid to Mr. Greene, who became unresponsive and died before he reached the hospital," the report said.

"Mr. Greene's death and its aftermath demonstrated serious failures at LSP — excessive force, improper supervision, ineffective training, and breakdowns in accountability," the report said. "These failures were not isolated, but part of a larger pattern or practice of law enforcement conduct that deprives people in Louisiana of their rights under the Constitution."

Additionally, the Justice Department noted a "troubling undercount" of intentional firearm discharges. State Police records showed 15 discharges between 2018 and 2022, but there were actually 33. The agency undercounted by more than half.

Also, troopers recovered 61 bullets from a car stuck in the mud after a two-parish, 28-minute pursuit. One trooper fired 15 shots from his handgun, then after noting "he has no tires, he ain't going nowhere," unloaded another 19 bullets from his rifle, the report said. After the shooting, a sergeant arrived and had to use his baton to break out a window to reach the driver. 

"One trooper told us that 'everyone's greatest fear is ... not being able to do pursuits' because 'that's the only fun they have," the report said. 

The federal investigators also looked into whether State Police engage in racially discriminatory policing, but said Thursday's report included findings regarding excessive force.