Trenton Police Violated Civil Rights in Pattern of Excessive Force and Unlawful Conduct

The U.S. Department of Justice has determined that the Trenton Police Department and the City of Trenton routinely violated constitutional rights through excessive force, unlawful stops, and arrests.

NEW JERSEY - A federal investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Justice Department found that the Trenton Police Department (TPD) engaged in a consistent pattern of civil rights violations. These included excessive use of force, improper stops and searches, and systemic deficiencies in supervision, training, and accountability.

Key Findings:

• Excessive Force: The investigation revealed repeated incidents where officers escalated encounters unnecessarily. In one 2023 case, an officer stomped on a man’s hand, kneeled on his head, and kicked his shoulder after the man was already subdued.
• Unlawful Stops and Arrests: TPD officers frequently conducted stops and searches of individuals and vehicles without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, leading to numerous unlawful arrests.
• Accountability Failures: The investigation highlighted deficiencies in TPD’s training, oversight, and policies, which contributed to ongoing misconduct.

The department’s actions have eroded public trust and cost the City of Trenton over $7 million since 2021 to settle lawsuits related to police misconduct.

Investigation and Cooperation:

The investigation, launched on October 17, 2023, involved an extensive review of TPD records, police reports, and hours of body camera footage. Investigators also conducted interviews with police leadership, officers, and community members, and participated in ride-alongs.

Both the city and TPD fully cooperated with the investigation and have begun implementing some changes. However, the Justice Department provided a detailed report outlining further remedial measures needed to address the findings.

Next Steps and Community Involvement:

The Justice Department, using authority under 34 U.S.C. § 12601, which prohibits law enforcement from engaging in patterns of unconstitutional conduct, may seek court-ordered reforms to address the violations.

Community members are invited to provide input on remedies:

• Email: USANJ.Community.Trenton@usdoj.gov
• Phone: 973-645-2801

A community meeting will be held at a future date to discuss the findings and proposed reforms.

Resources:

• Full report on the investigation: Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
• Information on police reform efforts: Police Reform Overview.

This investigation highlights the ongoing federal commitment to ensuring constitutional policing practices and restoring public trust in law enforcement.