MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. — According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Justice, a police department in Mount Vernon, New York, has been found to consistently infringe upon the civil rights of its residents. The report highlights instances of unlawful arrests and the use of unnecessary strip and cavity searches by officers within the department. This investigation is part of a broader initiative, with the DOJ opening a total of 12 inquiries into various local law enforcement agencies since 2021, many of which were prompted by the high-profile killings of individuals like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
The probe into the Mount Vernon police department, which operates with around 160 officers, was not triggered by a single event but rather a series of troubling practices. Notably, the report exemplifies this misconduct through a 2020 incident where two women, aged 65 and 75, were illegally strip-searched. Initially detained under the suspicion of drug offenses, the women were taken into custody despite officers finding no illicit substances in their vehicle. At the police station, detectives conducted a humiliating strip search that involved instructing the women to bend over and cough. Subsequent internal investigations revealed that the officers had fabricated details regarding the women’s drug activities, leading to only minor disciplinary action—losing a few vacation days.
The police union representing the Mount Vernon officers has not yet commented on the findings. It was disclosed in the report that practices of conducting strip searches were routinely applied to all individuals arrested by the police force as late as fall 2022. Additionally, officers engaged in strip searches of individuals who were not officially arrested, along with detaining and questioning individuals without formal charges. The report also indicated that such unlawful searches persisted into 2023, and while their frequency lessened during the investigation, the DOJ expressed skepticism about their complete cessation.
Among other unconstitutional actions, the report detailed a particularly disturbing case where officers interrogated a mother at the police station during the medical emergency of her daughter, who had been critically injured by a stray bullet. Tragically, the mother remained in custody as her daughter succumbed to her injuries. The officers involved failed to provide any reasonable justification for her detention. Furthermore, the report pointed out issues of financial mismanagement within the department, which were contributing factors to the prevalent human rights abuses, attributed to inadequate training and insufficient policy enforcement. The department’s low salaries have made it difficult to recruit and maintain competent officers while also impacting their operational budgets.
The DOJ offered several recommendations aimed at reforming the department’s practices to ensure the elimination of unconstitutional strip and body cavity searches. Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard has expressed a commitment to working alongside the DOJ to rectify these issues. In her statement, she emphasized support for officers adhering to lawful practices while making it clear that any form of unconstitutional behavior would not be tolerated and would result in appropriate repercussions.
Additionally, the report mentions that following a 2021 investigation, three police officers and two civilian staff members were terminated. However, questions remain unanswered regarding the specific circumstances surrounding these firings, as a spokesperson for the mayor has not provided insight into the details.
