SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Federal authorities have launched a civil rights investigation into alleged misconduct at the Trenton Police Department.
Safe communities are built upon trust between police and the people they are sworn to serve and protect, according to New Jersey U.S. Attorney Phillip Sellinger. He says Trenton residents have complained for years about the police department’s use of force and vehicle stops without probable cause, leading to an initial inquiry.
Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristin Clarke, with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, says they will look at body-worn camera video, police reports, complaint files and several other sources of information to find out what has really happened on the streets in Trenton.
According to Clarke, this is just the start of the investigation. She says prosecutors will enter with an open mind to allow the evidence to guide them, and that the probe isn’t confined to one section or unit — rather, the entire department will be investigated.
Once the investigation is finished, Clarke says they may make recommendations on disciplinary action or policy changes, as they have in cities such as Seattle and Baltimore, which both saw decreases in police use of force following similar investigations. A public report will be issued upon completion, though no date was given.
In a statement, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora tells KYW Newsradio the city will fully cooperate with the federal investigation. "If any members of law enforcement violated the public trust or act in contravention of our state and federal laws, they should and must be held accountable," said Gusciora.