Justice Department report reveals officers in Trenton have been involved in the deaths of innocent individuals, including a fatality caused by officers pushing a man’s face into the ground.
The U.S. Department of Justice recently released a report uncovering systematic violations of constitutional rights by police officers in Trenton, N.J. The report, conducted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, revealed instances where police officers in Trenton engaged in illegal searches, escalated peaceful interactions into violence, and caused the deaths of innocent individuals.
One disturbing incident detailed in the report involved police officers encountering an unarmed man running shirtless in a hospital parking lot. The officers proceeded to pepper-spray him, tackle and handcuff him, and then press their knees into his back while pushing his face into mulch. Despite the man pleading that he couldn’t breathe and that he was going to die, the officers continued their actions for over four minutes until the man became motionless and later pronounced dead by doctors. While the man was not identified in the report, the circumstances align with the case of Stephen Dolceamore, 29, from Springfield, Pa., who died on April 3, 2020, prior to the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The report also highlighted the prevalence of illegal stops, searches, and arrests conducted by police officers in Trenton, along with the indiscriminate use of physical force and pepper spray. Additionally, the report criticized the department’s leadership for actively discouraging residents from reporting police abuses and turning a blind eye to officer misconduct.
In light of these findings, concerns have been raised about potential changes to federal efforts aimed at reforming police departments under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump. Despite uncertainties surrounding future initiatives, the report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for police reform to protect the constitutional rights and safety of all citizens.
As the community grapples with the implications of the report, individuals like Rev. Charles Boyer from the Greater Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton have expressed a mix of heartbreak, anger, and lack of surprise at the findings. The report sheds light on the urgent need for accountability and reform within the Trenton Police Department to ensure the protection and well-being of the city’s residents.
Source: The NY Times
