Farahnaz Shemeem as a St. Francis Medical Center employee had seen people die before but she had never witnessed anyone actually killed. That changed on April 3, 2020 when Shemeem watched as City of Trenton police officers encountered Stephen Dolceamore, 29, of Springfield, Pa., outside St. Francis Medical Center. According to a report, Trenton police officers had responded to word of a man behaving erratically and walking into traffic near St. Francis Medical Center. Officers located the subject, later identified as Mr. Dolceamore, who ran off. Officers pursued Dolceamore on foot, who ran from the officers inside the parking lot. He yelled “help,” and claimed that people were after him. Officers deployed OC (pepper) spray with no effect. Dolceamore continued to run and fell to the ground. As Dolceamore was on hands and knees and, prior to being restrained by officers, he continued to yell, “Help” and “I can’t breathe.” Officers brought Dolceamore to the ground. Four officers restrained and handcuffed him. Video recordings from the body-worn cameras captured this encounter. During the (incident) Mr. Dolceamore became unresponsive. Police officers and emergency medical personnel attempted to provide medical assistance to Mr. Dolceamore to no avail. Shemeem, current leader of Greater Trenton Democratic Socialists of America (GTDSA), had just finished her shift and watched in disbelief as the incident unfolded. Seated in her vehicle parallel to the encounter, she could not believe her eyes. “It was surreal. Disturbing. Haunting,” Shemeem recalled. “I was seeing everything happening but the incident was not really registering.” Incredibly, Shemeem watched as the death scene unfolded just yards away from her parked car. Only a black-barred fence stood between her, police officers and Dolceamore. She took out her cell phone and captured an eerie image of Dolceamore, his faced pressed against the ground of a parking lot inlet with three police officers on top of him. “Stephen Dolceamore had been immobilized and was likely dead in that moment,” Shemeem speculated. Attempts were made to save Dolceamore’s life before he perished inside St. Francis Medical Center less than an hour after the altercation. An autopsy performed by the medical examiner concluded the manner of death was homicide and the cause of Dolceamore’s death involved “methamphetamine intoxication with physical restraint and chest-wall restriction.” Toxicology results showed toxic to lethal ranges of methamphetamine and Buprenorphine, a synthetic opioid, in his system at the time of death. A finding of “homicide” by the medical examiner indicated that another person or persons contributed to the death. It did not establish criminal liability or determine whether the actions of the other persons were legally justified. A state grand jury voted not to file any criminal charges. “No accountability, how can that be,” Shemeem wondered. As an eyewitness she will be forever tethered to the death of Stephen Dolceamore, as if anyone should be eternally persecuted with such trauma. And, the photo? It’s disturbingly dark, ugly, and highlights dastardly dirty deeds. The Dolceamore death factored into a Department of Justice investigation and determination that Trenton Police Department and City of Trenton engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. “Specifically, the Justice Department found that TPD unlawfully uses excessive force, including unreasonable forms of physical force and pepper spray in the absence of any significant resistance or danger. TPD also conducts stops, searches and arrests without reasonable suspicion or probable cause,” the report notes. “In addition, the department identified deficiencies in training, supervision, policy and accountability that contribute to TPD and the city’s unlawful conduct…… The use of excessive force and unconstitutional stops, searches and arrests, sometimes with tragic consequences, have eroded public trust and undermined public safety.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey added, findings of the yearlong investigation that started on October 17, 2023, represent, “the first step in achieving the reforms needed to rebuild public trust.” Shemeem remains disheartened and disillusioned by any suggestion that significant police reform will materialize. “I don’t think any positive change will come of this. Usually, incidents like this mean more funding for police but nothing that deals with the root of problems,” Shemeem lamented. “You still try to do a little, maybe inspire the smallest of change. It’s always good to hold onto hope.” Dolceamore’s family sued the city for wrongful death. Trenton settled the case for $1.9 million.