Trenton Police Director Steven Wilson has opted for a behind closed doors discussion after receiving a Rice Notice from members of City Council. “We will be speaking with the Director in Executive session on Thursday,” Crystal Feliciano, president of City Council confirmed. The interrogation comes three weeks after a Department of Justice report concluded Trenton’s Police Department and City of Trenton engage in practices that violate the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. On November 21, the Department of Justice released findings of a year-long probe that determined city police use 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. In addition, the department identified deficiencies in training, supervision, policy and accountability that contribute to TPD and the city’s unlawful conduct. On December 6, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and Wilson appeared before City Council to make their first public comments on the DOJ report. Both said the Trenton Police Department and City had cooperated with the federal investigation. At-Large City Councilwoman Jasi Edwards expressed dissatisfaction and promised to pursue a Rice hearing for Wilson. A Rice Notice, obtained by simple majority, allows members of City Council to discuss aspects of Director Wilson’s employment. “Director Wilson needs to answer to the public for the atrocities that are occurring with the police department, internally and externally. I don’t feel that he’s been strong enough, I feel he’s been too buddy-buddy with a lot of officers,” Edwards said. She added, “a lot of issues with the department have been swept under the rug.” The Wilson event occurs a day after Philip R. Sellinger, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, met with Trenton residents at Mount Zion AME Church for a discussion about the report and next steps.