NAACP Calls For Dismissal Of Trenton Police Chief After DOJ Report

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — The Trenton Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has called for the resignation of the Trenton Police Chief after a federal report found the police department routinely violates the civil rights of residents and used “unreasonable” physical force.

In a scathing 45-page report released last week, the DOJ said that officers in Trenton routinely made arrests without legal basis and used “unreasonable” forms of physical force and pepper spray when facing little to no danger.

The report also said that the department failed to hold officers accountable for violating department protocols.

“The Department of Justice and US Attorney's Office routinely recommends more training, data collection, cultural sensitivity training, properly using their body cams, and to follow guidelines that have been in New Jersey for years already. If more training and following the rules were enough, we would not be in this position in the first place,” the NAACP said in a statement.

“We know the police are not following the rules. We know they routinely ignore body camera rules. We know that more training does not work. If the police cared about the community for which they are supposed to serve, we would not have our children harassed, citizens assaulted, and the public killed by their hands.”

The report came roughly after a yearlong investigation into TDP undertaken after an officer shot and paralyzed a Black man who attempted to drive away when officers didn’t tell him why he was being stopped.

During the investigation, the DOJ spoke with over a hundred community members, faith leaders, state and local employees, advocacy organizations, and members of the criminal defense bar.

They reviewed thousands of documents, including reports, policies, training records, and internal affairs files, as well as body-worn camera footage.

The NAACP noted that the DOJ failed to address issues raised with Trenton officers who complained about routine discrimination when it came to hiring, promotions, and punishments.

“Although these testimonies were failed to be mentioned in the Department of Justice report, like we did with both the community and these good officers, we with the NAACP remain committed to supporting these community members and good officers in pursuing all legal claims against the Trenton Police Department, not just through this investigation, but as we have done for years, even more so now,” the NAACP said.

The NAACP made three demands – the first calling for the “immediate termination” of Police Director Wilson “who, since summer of 2021, has been at the helm of this organization during the majority of the DOJ's 5 year look back period. We cannot wait for the new Trump administration who has promised complete police immunity to come in and sweep this investigation under the rug.”

The organization then called for the establishment of a oversignt committee run by community members, with no political or police interest.

"Unfortunately, we've had a police director who oversaw this unlawful department and allowed TPD to be run by his good old boy crony jump out boys in critical units like internal affairs, who routinely ignored civilian complaints and, like we see with the New Jersey State Police, unfairly disciplined Black and Latino officers more than their White peers. This is why we need independent monitors to keep the foxes from guarding the henhouse. Imagine a civilian review for board created for us and by us,” the NAACP said.

Finally, they asked all gubernatorial candidates for the NJ 2025 election to answer, "what are you going to do about the Trenton problem?" They want all candidates to speak about how they will address the issues that Trenton currently faces, including poverty.

The DOJ report also made several recommendations, including the department improving its use of force policy, boosting data collection, implementing better training, and enhancing accountability.

After the release of the report, Mayor Reed Gusciora said the City and police department cooperated with the federal investigation and gave "extraordinary access” to officers from the DOJ.

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