Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Mount Vernon Police Department.

Rocah wants the DOJ to investigate what she calls "pervasive" and persistent alleged civil rights violations, including unlawful strip searches and excessive use of force.

She says she discovered the patterns of possibly illegal conduct during ongoing investigations into some of the department's officers.

While the DA's office will continue to look into those criminal accusations, a possible federal investigation would target broader civil rights issues that don't usually fall under her control.

Some of the complaints date back as far as 2012 and as recently as last year.

Rocah says she doesn't want this to be an indictment against the entire department but feels policy changes may be needed as a whole.

Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard says she supports a federal investigation to achieve more police accountability. Police Commissioner Glenn Scott says he's embracing police reforms and transparency.

A DOJ spokesperson tells News 12 they have no comment.