A suburban New York police division usually violated civil rights by making unlawful arrests and conducting unlawful strip and cavity searches, the Division of Justice mentioned in a brand new report.
The report, launched Thursday, recognized that the Mount Vernon Police Division used extreme power in quite a few methods, together with by unnecessarily escalating minor encounters and overusing tasers and closed-fist strikes, significantly in opposition to individuals who had been already on the bottom, managed by a number of officers or already restrained.
It additionally recognized considerations with how the police division carried out automobile stops and picked up proof, and famous considerations over discriminatory policing. The police division was additionally cited for making arrests with out possible trigger.
No single incident sparked the investigation into Mount Vernon’s police power, though the unlawful 2020 strip search of two aged girls — ages 65 and 75 respectively — was emblematic of the division’s civil rights violations, the report mentioned.
Mount Vernon police in New York usually violated the civil rights of its residents, together with by making unlawful arrests and conducting unlawful strip and cavity searches, the DOJ mentioned. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg through Getty Photographs)
The 2 girls had been arrested on suspicion of buying medicine, the report mentioned. Officers discovered no proof of against the law throughout a search of their automobile, however nonetheless took them into custody and transported them to a police station in handcuffs.
Supervisors on the station accredited a totally nude strip search by detectives who “instructed them to bend over and cough,” based on the report.
An inner investigation decided that the officers had lied in regards to the girls buying medicine and, as a type of self-discipline, the officers concerned had been docked a number of trip days.
“Our investigation has discovered cheap trigger to imagine that MVPD engages in a sample or observe of conduct that violates the constitutional rights of the residents it has sworn to guard,” U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York mentioned, partially, in an announcement.
Mount Vernon’s police force held a observe till no less than the autumn of 2022 to strip search each individual positioned below arrest, based on the report.
The investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Division’s sample of officer misconduct is one among 12 probes opened by the Justice Division into native policing companies previously three years. (Mount Vernon Police Division / Fb)
Officers additionally strip-searched individuals they didn’t place below arrest, and detained and interrogated individuals with out formally arresting them.
Individuals had been additionally arrested for verbally criticizing officers, which is protected below the suitable to freedom of speech and expression.
The Justice Department mentioned unlawful strip and cavity searches continued till no less than 2023. Whereas the observe was “curtailed” in the course of the probe, investigators mentioned “we’re not assured that these practices have ended.”
“These illegal searches had been deeply ingrained in MVPD’s practices, occurring over a few years, and had been extremely intrusive, the report mentioned.
The report recognized instances of unconstitutional arrests, together with an incident the place officers transported the mom of a capturing sufferer to a police station and interrogated her whereas her daughter, who was struck by a stray bullet, was rushed to the hospital. The daughter died whereas her mom was in police custody. Officers did not articulate any possible trigger for the mom being held.
Mount Vernon police supervisors accredited a totally nude strip search after unlawful arrests of two girls, who had been instructed to “bend over and cough,” the DOJ mentioned. (AP Picture/Jose Luis Magana)
The police power additionally had monetary mismanagement, which exacerbated pervasive human rights violations attributable to unlawful insurance policies and lack of coaching, the DOJ mentioned, including that low salaries make it troublesome to draw and retain high quality officers, practice employees and pay payments, which diminished its provide finances.
The Justice Division mentioned the town is already taking steps to enhance its policing practices. The report supplied a sequence of suggestions, equivalent to implementing measures “to make sure that unconstitutional strip and physique cavity searches don’t happen.”
Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, a Democrat, mentioned in an announcement that the town would work with the Justice Division to deal with its findings of civil rights violations.
“We wholeheartedly help our good officers and on the identical time is not going to tolerate and can punish unconstitutional policing,” Patterson-Howard mentioned.
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Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard mentioned three law enforcement officials and two civilian workers had been fired following a 2021 investigation. (AP)
The mayor mentioned three law enforcement officials and two civilian workers had been fired following an investigation in 2021 with out offering particulars about when and why these people had been fired.
Assistant Legal professional Basic Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division mentioned the investigation into MVPD “reveals a sample and observe of illegal conduct that may and have to be addressed,” including that the division should implement measures to “finish these unconstitutional practices.”
“Police reform is not going to occur in a single day,” Clarke added. “Throughout the nation, the division’s investigations, findings studies and ensuing reform measures assist regulation enforcement companies change into the departments that their residents want and deserve.”
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The investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Division’s sample of officer misconduct is one among 12 probes opened by the DOJ into native policing companies previously three years.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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