Nov 27, 2024 Story by: Editor
The Justice Department has uncovered a pattern of misconduct within the Trenton Police Department, citing excessive force, unlawful stops, and arrests lacking legal justification. A recently released 45-page report detailed incidents where officers escalated situations unnecessarily, used aggression, and employed pepper spray without valid reasons.
The investigation, which spanned a year, followed an incident in which an officer shot and paralyzed a young Black man attempting to drive away without being told why he was stopped. The report revealed violations of the Fourth Amendment and recommended more than two dozen reforms.
U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip Sellinger emphasized the need for change, stating that the residents of Trenton deserve policing that is both fair and constitutional. He noted that the investigation uncovered frequent violations of individuals’ constitutional rights during police stops, often with devastating consequences.
The report examined a department with around 260 officers serving a population of nearly 90,000. Many residents face significant challenges, including poverty and high crime rates, while the city’s limited property tax base, due to the prevalence of state government buildings, hampers public safety funding.
Among the incidents described, one involved an officer pursuing a 16-year-old boy who matched the description of a suspect with a gun. The officer reportedly grabbed the boy by the neck, slammed him onto a car hood, and insulted him, only to find that the boy was unarmed. When the boy’s teacher intervened, explaining that the boy ran out of fear, the officer responded dismissively, saying the police were there to help.
Another case involved a Black woman sitting in her parked car while talking to a male friend. Officers assumed she was involved in a drug transaction after observing the man remove something from his bag. They approached her aggressively, drove the wrong way down a one-way street, and grabbed her wrist while threatening her with pepper spray. No drugs were found, and one officer admitted he was unsure why she had been stopped.
The report criticized the department for inadequate supervision and insufficient training, stating that these shortcomings contributed to repeated violations of legal and procedural standards.
Mayor Reed Gusciora responded by reaffirming the city’s commitment to cooperating with federal authorities and implementing the recommended reforms. He noted that Trenton had already disbanded two street units that were found to have engaged in unconstitutional practices.
The Justice Department recommended updates to the department’s use-of-force policies, enhanced training, greater accountability, and improved data collection. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke expressed a commitment to working with city officials to address the identified issues, emphasizing the importance of implementing necessary reforms.
Trenton is not the only city in New Jersey facing scrutiny over policing practices. Newark has operated under a federal consent decree for nearly a decade, and Paterson’s police department was taken over by the state attorney general after the fatal shooting of a crisis intervention worker.
Once a thriving manufacturing center contributing to projects like the Golden Gate Bridge, Trenton now faces economic struggles. The city’s poverty rate exceeds 26%, far above the national average, while homeownership and high school graduation rates remain below state levels.
Community advocate Darren “Freedom” Green said the findings highlight a well-known reality and stressed the need for meaningful policy reforms to address the issues outlined in the report. Source: CNN
