The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Justice Department announced Thursday that the Trenton Police Department (TPD) and the city of Trenton engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The dark delivery made grayer a rainy day in a capital city in desperate need of good news, aside from playground renovations. A probe that called into question actions by both city officials and police officers adds to the debilitation of Trenton. The DOJ determination confirmed only what many Trenton residents have known for considerable amounts of time — many city police fail to treat residents with respect and are prone to escalate situations during traffic stops and other interactions. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger offered this assessment. “For too long, the residents of Trenton have felt afraid of the police, rather than protected by them. The use of excessive force and unconstitutional stops, searches and arrests, sometimes with tragic consequences, have eroded public trust and undermined public safety,” Sellinger said. The comprehensive investigation, launched in October 2023, found that TPD unlawfully uses excessive force, including unreasonable forms of physical force and pepper spray when facing little resistance or danger. TPD also conducts stops, searches and arrests without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. In addition, the department identified deficiencies in training, supervision, policy and accountability that contribute to TPD and the city’s unlawful conduct. View this document on Scribd By the way, if deficiencies exist in training, supervision, policy, and accountability, then if and when Trenton officials implement initiatives to improve police behavior, major changes should occur at the top of the police pyramid, even resignation or termination of Police Director Steven Wilson along with other supervisors. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, added a list of criticisms and insights about what amounted to a version of cops gone wild. “Police officers must respect people’s civil and constitutional rights and treat people with dignity,” she said.  “After an extensive review, we found that police officers in Trenton routinely failed to respect the Fourth Amendment rights of those who call Trenton home. Trenton police stop and search pedestrians and motorists without a legal basis, make illegal arrests and use excessive force without basis.” While the Department of Justice findings rank as newsworthy, the accusations confirm longstanding realities held by residents. For many, being stopped by police produces fear, anxiety, and eventual loathing. The Department of Justice team conducted an extensive review of TPD’s records, including hundreds of police reports and hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. The team also interviewed city and TPD leadership and line officers, accompanied officers on ride-alongs and met with dozens of community members. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora complained that while members of his administration were “briefed on the high-level findings and recommendations contained in the Report and were given the opportunity for a limited review, the City was not provided a copy of the Report prior to (yesterday’s) announcement. “Our understanding from the USDOJ’s statements and our limited review of the Report is that the USDOJ recommends better training, enhanced supervision, and improved recordkeeping. Even prior to the USDOJ review, the City and the TPD had already begun to change policies and practices that prioritize community safety, accountability, and respect for civil liberties,” a statement explained. While changing policies will matter if the Trenton Police Department intends to improve, changing people should factor in positive change. And while Gusciora offered commentary about already being on the path to law enforcement recovery, a turnaround requires patience, community involvement and recognition of deficiencies. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].