DOJ Accuses New Jersey City’s Police Department of Violating People’s Constitutional Rights

November 21, 2024 TruthUSA

Trenton officers are accused of using excessive force and engaging in wrongful stops, searches, and arrests, according to federal prosecutors following a yearlong investigation.

A city in New Jersey and its police department are accused of a consistent pattern of misconduct that violates people’s constitutional rights through excessive force and unlawful arrests, as stated in a new report by the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ).

After a comprehensive investigation in Trenton, the DOJ released a 45-page report on Nov. 21, highlighting instances of police misconduct such as unreasonable use of physical force and pepper spray, along with wrongful searches and arrests during pedestrian and traffic stops. The report also pointed out the city’s failure to hold the department accountable or provide adequate training.

The Epoch Times reached out to the city and police department for comments.

The DOJ revealed that since 2021, Trenton has paid over $7 million in lawsuits related to misconduct allegations.

“Some Trentonians have lost trust in their police department due to these ongoing failures,” the report stated. “Members of the public have expressed avoiding interactions with the police out of fear of rights violations or exacerbating a bad situation.”

Trenton, one of New Jersey’s poorest cities with a population of 89,620, is policed by 260 officers. The city has faced high unemployment due to the loss of manufacturing jobs over the past few decades.

The DOJ initiated its investigation in October 2023, conducting interviews with staff and citizens, and found significant deficiencies in training and accountability, with the responsibility lying with the Trenton Police Department (TPD).

Citing a specific incident, the DOJ alleged that an officer used excessive force to arrest a man – even after the man was on the ground, the officer proceeded to “stomp on his hand three times, kneel on his head, and kick him in the shoulder.” Surprisingly, three levels of TPD supervisors deemed the officer’s actions justified.

The DOJ accused the department of numerous unjustified stops and searches, resulting in arrests of individuals without proper cause.

The investigation relied on “hundreds of police reports,” body camera footage, and interviews with city staff and citizens.

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora mentioned in a statement to The Associated Press that all departments involved cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the DOJ’s investigation.

Following the opening of the investigation, the DOJ disclosed that the police department dismantled two of its street enforcement units.

“We found that these units had engaged in constitutional violations, but dissolving them did not resolve [the department’s] pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing,” the report specified. “The violations were not restricted to the street enforcement units.”

Both the city and police department acknowledged that law enforcement personnel’s actions are problematic, and the police department agreed to collaborate with the DOJ on implementing necessary reforms.

Despite the New Jersey attorney general setting police department policies, law enforcement has failed to adhere to these regulations, according to the DOJ. Implementing reforms will involve enforcing standards and monitoring compliance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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