A suburban New York police division frequently 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 have been already on the bottom, managed by a number of officers or already restrained.
It additionally recognized issues with how the police division performed car stops and picked up proof, and famous issues 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.
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Mount Vernon police in New York frequently 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 by way of Getty Pictures)
The 2 girls have 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 authorized a completely nude strip search by detectives who “informed them to bend over and cough,” in line with the report.
An inside investigation decided that the officers had lied concerning the girls buying medicine and, as a type of self-discipline, the officers concerned have been docked a couple of trip days.
“Our investigation has discovered affordable 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 a press release.
Mount Vernon’s police power held a observe till no less than the autumn of 2022 to strip search each particular person positioned below arrest, in line with the report.
The investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Division’s sample of officer misconduct is one in every of 12 probes opened by the Justice Division into native policing companies up to now three years. (Mount Vernon Police Division / Fb)
Officers additionally strip-searched folks they didn’t place below arrest, and detained and interrogated folks with out formally arresting them.
Folks have been additionally arrested for verbally criticizing officers, which is protected below the correct to freedom of speech and expression.
The Justice Division mentioned unlawful strip and cavity searches continued till no less than 2023. Whereas the observe was “curtailed” throughout the probe, investigators mentioned “we’re not assured that these practices have ended.”
“These illegal searches have been deeply ingrained in MVPD’s practices, occurring over a few years, and have 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 taking pictures 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 didn’t articulate any possible trigger for the mom being held.
Mount Vernon police supervisors authorized a completely nude strip search after unlawful arrests of two girls, who have been informed 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 brought on by 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 funds.
The Justice Division mentioned town is already taking steps to enhance its policing practices. The report supplied a sequence of suggestions, resembling 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 a press release that town would work with the Justice Division to deal with its findings of civil rights violations.
“We wholeheartedly assist our good officers and on the identical time won’t tolerate and can punish unconstitutional policing,” Patterson-Howard mentioned.
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Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard mentioned three cops and two civilian workers have been fired following a 2021 investigation. (AP)
The mayor mentioned three cops and two civilian workers had been fired following an investigation in 2021 with out offering particulars about when and why these people have been fired.
Assistant Legal professional Normal 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 should be addressed,” including that the division should implement measures to “finish these unconstitutional practices.”
“Police reform won’t occur in a single day,” Clarke added. “Throughout the nation, the division’s investigations, findings studies and ensuing reform measures assist legislation 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 in every of 12 probes opened by the DOJ into native policing companies up to now three years.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
