Justice Department Investigates Newark Police

After allegations of abuse and misconduct and with over 418 civil rights violations reported within a two and a half year period, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) announced that the US Department of Justice has opened a case to investigate the Newark Police Department for allegedly violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The US Attorney’s Office in New Jersey and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will investigate. The agencies will analyze interviews and records to determine if there are patterns of illegal stops and the use of excessive force against civilians.

“Our goal is not to blame, but to fix any problems we might find,” said Paul Fishman, the US Attorney for the District of New Jersey at a press conference on May 9.

ACLU-NJ Policy Counsel Alexander Shalom stated in a press release, “We hope the Newark Police Department becomes another success story, built on a foundation of its renewed commitment to justice and equality.”

The Justice Department will focus on allegations that Newark police officers retaliate against people who record police activity. Violations may include false arrests and violent behavior that resulted in injury and death.

There are two cases pending against the Newark Police. According to the ACLU, the first case involves defending a newspaper publisher’s freedom of the press and the second, defending a high school honor student’s right to videotape the police in public.

Tom Perez, assistant attorney general of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department said that this is not a criminal investigation, but one that is meant to target conduct that violate the Constitution and provide a resolution. “We are here to listen and learn –to follow the facts where they take us,” said Perez, according to CNN.