The U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a civil rights investigation into the Chicago Police Department's pattern and practices following public backlash over the way the city officials handled the police shooting of Laquan McDonald.

On Monday, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that the federal probe will focus on the use of force, deadly force and accountability within the police department. It will also look into the department's disciplinary actions and response to civilian complaints of police misconduct.

"What we are looking at is whether or not the police department has engaged in unconstitutional policing," said Lynch, adding that several officials and activists requested the DOJ to review the Chicago Police Department's practices, reports ABC News.

In response, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel issued a statement, saying he welcomes the investigation and will ensure the city cooperates in order to achieve the "mutual goal" of keeping people safe and mend community and police relations.

"Nothing is more important to me than the safety and well-being of our residents and ensuring that the men and women of our Police Department have the tools, resources and training they need to be effective crime fighters, stay safe, and build community trust," reads the statement, according to CNN.

The DOJ announcement was made nearly one week after Emanuel asked Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy to resign in wake of public outrage over the McDonald's death. The federal probe also came two weeks after city officials released video footage of McDonald's shooting more than a year after the incident took place on Oct. 20, 2014.

In the dash cam video, the African-American teen is seen walking in the middle of a two-way street, when multiple police cars drive toward him. Then, just six seconds after arriving on the scene, Officer Jason Van Dyke jumps out of his vehicle and opens fire on McDonald, who was armed with a knife and had PCP in his system, according to a criminal complaint filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder last week for fatally shooting McDonald 16 times.