The U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused Trenton officers of using excessive force and conducting wrongful stops, searches, and arrests after a yearlong probe.
A recent DOJ report highlighted a pattern of misconduct within a New Jersey city and its police department, violating people’s constitutional rights through excessive force and unlawful arrests.
The Epoch Times reached out to the city and its police department for comment.
According to the DOJ, Trenton has paid over $7 million in lawsuits related to misconduct since 2021.
The report stated, “Some Trentonians have lost faith in their police department due to these continued failures, avoiding any interaction with the police out of fear of rights violations or worsening situations.”
Trenton, one of New Jersey’s poorest cities with a population of 89,620 and 260 officers, has faced economic challenges with the loss of manufacturing jobs over the past few decades.
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The DOJ initiated its investigation in October 2023, conducting interviews with staff and citizens and identifying significant deficiencies in training and accountability, which the Trenton Police Department (TPD) was responsible for.
One incident highlighted by the DOJ involved an officer using excessive force during an arrest, including stomping on the suspect’s hand, kneeling on his head, and kicking him, actions that were deemed justified by three levels of TPD supervisors.
The department was accused of making unjustified stops, searches, and arrests based on “hundreds of police reports,” body camera footage, and interviews.
Following the investigation, the DOJ reported that two of the police department’s street enforcement units were disbanded due to constitutional violations, though this action was deemed insufficient to address the overall pattern of unconstitutional policing within the department.
Both the city and police department acknowledged issues with law enforcement actions and committed to working with the DOJ on implementing reforms.
Despite the New Jersey attorney general setting department policies, law enforcement has not consistently followed these regulations, necessitating a focus on enforcing standards and ensuring compliance moving forward.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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