'Successful conclusion' to agreement between justice department, Yonkers police over ensuring constitutional policing
An historic announcement was made in Yonkers Tuesday. That's what city leaders are saying about the conclusion of a years-long agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
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City leaders say the conclusion of a years-long agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday was historic.
It started back in 2007. That's when federal officials started investigating the Yonkers Police Department over an alleged pattern of excessive force and discriminatory policing.
A couple of years after that is when Yonkers police entered an agreement with the DOJ to improve its policies and practices.
On Tuesday, officials with the DOJ said that agreement has paid off.
“We applaud our police department but also the efforts of our community. By partnering together, we are able to make a difference for our residents, their quality of life and how our community interacts and engages with our police officers," says Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano.
The Yonkers Police Department has implemented all of the reforms required by the agreement and sustained those reforms for more than a year, according to federal officials.
"We commend YPD leadership, including former YPD Commissioners Charles Gardner and John Mueller, current YPD Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, as well as civilian staff and officers for their commitment to ensure constitutional policing for the people of Yonkers. Our settlements with police departments are of little utility unless real work and effort is put in to ensure that reforms are brought to life and successfully implemented," says Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Data shows a significant reduction in excessive force settlement payouts due to a marked decrease in allegations of unlawful uses of force and, a 22% decrease in violent crimes over the last five years.
The city contributes all of that to the dozens of changes they've made within the police department, both on large and smaller scales.
“Over the course of this agreement, we initiated more than forty community programs, which are still in place today. The Yonkers Police Department is and will remain a community-based police department putting the citizens of Yonkers first," says Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza.
You can read the full release from the DOJ here:
