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On December 3, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, along with the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced a pattern and practice investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department (MVPD). The investigation would assess whether the MVPD engaged in practices of discriminatory policing. The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 gave the investigators the authority to bring the inquiry. The act prohibited state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprived individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The practices of MVPD were to be assessed under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The investigation planned to focus on whether MVPD engaged in 1) discriminatory policing, 2) use of excessive force, 3) conducting unlawful strip and body cavity searches, and 4) the mishandling of evidence.
On December 12, 2024, the Justice Department announced its initial findings of its investigation into the MVPD and released a report. The investigation found evidence that suggests the the MVPD uses excessive force and has conducted unlawful strip and body cavity searches. Additionally, the Justice Department found that there are serious concerns that MVPD practices may result in discriminatory policing and unlawful arrests in violation of the fourth amendment. The Justice Department acknowledged that MVPD has implemented changes in their procedures such as equipping officers with body cameras and less lethal weapons, and provided a report with additional remedial measures such as increased oversight of evidentiary practices and more stringent accountability measures .
The City agreed to work with the Justice Department to address their findings, and the Justice Department was planning on reaching out to Mount Vernon community members to determine remedies to address the investigation's findings.
Summary Authors
Rhea Sharma (4/1/2024)
Renuka Wagh (2/3/2025)
Clarke, Kristen M. (District of Columbia)
Williams, Damian (New York)
State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Mount Vernon Police Department (Mount Vernon, Westchester), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Unreasonable search and seizure
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Policing: