Clearinghouse coding complete
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.
As of April 1, 2024, this investigation is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Rhea Sharma (4/1/2024)
Clarke, Kristen M. (District of Columbia)
Williams, Damian (New York)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:44 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.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:
Policing:
Inadequate citizen complaint investigations and procedures
Strip search policy (policing)
Discrimination-area: