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Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington and U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger made the announcement on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The investigation seeks to determine if there are systemic violations of the Constitution and federal law by Trenton police, they said.
The probe will include a comprehensive review of TPD policies, training and supervision, in addition to complaint intake, internal investigation protocols, complaint reviews, complaint adjudications and disciplinary decisions, they said.
Federal officials reviewed media reports, court records, body-worn camera footage and statistical data about police interactions.
“The public must have trust and confidence that police officers will treat them fairly and with respect,” Clarke said.
They said they found examples of force used against people suspected of minor traffic offenses, onlookers who were recording or questioning police activity, and confrontations that were unnecessarily escalated, including dealing with people in mental health crises, Clarke and Sellinger said.
They also found evidence of police routinely stopping people on foot or in vehicles and conducting warrantless searches that violate the Constitution.
Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson, Mayor Reed Gusciora and Trenton Law Department Director Wes Bridges have pledged their cooperation, the federal officials said.
As part of this investigation, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office will conduct outreach to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with TPD.
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