U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger will lead a community meeting on Wednesday, December 18, to discuss the Department of Justice’s findings regarding systemic misconduct within the Trenton Police Department (TPD), but he is expected to be out of the job in another month.
Trenton residents should not expect much to come from the meeting, scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM at Greater Mount Zion AME Church, 42 Pennington Avenue, Trenton, NJ.
The investigation, launched in October 2023, revealed that Trenton police routinely engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional policing practices, including excessive use of force, unlawful stops, searches, and arrests.
The findings were detailed in a severely critical 45-page report that highlighted an abundance of violations of citizens’ constitutional rights, particularly impacting Black and Latino residents.
The DOJ report cited numerous examples of misconduct:
- Officers using excessive force, including unwarranted pepper-spraying and physical assaults.
- Racially biased policing, including illegal stops and arrests without evidence.
- Failure to train officers adequately in de-escalation and constitutional policing.
- A lack of accountability, with internal affairs sustaining no complaints of excessive force from 2018 to 2023.
The report documented cases of brutality, such as a 2022 incident in which a Black man was paralyzed after being shot by police, and other episodes where citizens were taunted, beaten, or falsely accused by officers.
“This unconstitutional conduct needs to stop, and it must stop now,” said Sellinger at a press conference announcing the findings.
Federal investigators outlined 26 recommendations for reform, including:
- Enhanced training on de-escalation and cultural competency.
- Strict enforcement of body-worn camera policies, with penalties for violations.
- Overhauling internal affairs to improve complaint investigations and tracking misconduct trends.
- Holding supervisors accountable for failing to address misconduct.
The DOJ has pledged to work with city officials to implement these reforms. Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, emphasized the importance of community engagement in shaping the path forward.
Public Concerns and Criticism
While the meeting aims to gather community input, some residents have raised concerns about its location.
Former Councilwoman Robin M. Vaughn criticized Sellinger’s decision to hold the meeting at a church that receives federal funding, arguing it could create a perception of bias.
Vaughn suggested using public facilities like Trenton Central High School or Mercer County Community College to ensure a neutral venue, but Sellinger apparently dismissed concerns about the meeting location.
Mayor Reed Gusciora, who presided over the police misconduct for six years, said that some policy changes were already underway before the investigation.
“The safety of our residents and the protection of their constitutional rights is paramount,” Gusciora claimed.
Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, called the findings a long-overdue validation of residents’ complaints.
“This report shows the urgent need for sweeping police reform statewide,” Sinha said.
The NAACP is not satisfied with the political establishment’s response so far, calling for the resignation of the city’s police director and the creation of a community-based police review board.
The Trenton City Council in September approved a $3 million settlement in the civil suit that Jajuan Henderson filed against the city.
A police officer shot and paralyzed Henderson, who was unarmed, minding his own business, and visiting the mother of his daughter on Centre Street in South Trenton.
Henderson’s attorney, Gregg Zeff, says authorities have lost trust with the public.
“This incident and incidents like it are all too familiar,” said Richard Smith, president of the state NAACP, after Henderson suffered four gunshot wounds. “These officers — sworn to protect and serve all —rushed to execution. These officers devalued the life of another Black man.”
Sellinger has faced scrutiny over his ties to disgraced former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who was convicted on federal bribery charges.
Before his appointment, Sellinger was among the largest contributors to Menendez’s legal defense fund during the senator’s first corruption trial in 2017, which ended in a hung jury.
Critics have raised questions about Sellinger’s impartiality and judgment, citing his support for Menendez and the senator’s role in securing his nomination for the U.S. Attorney, particularly given Menendez’s subsequent criminal conviction.
A significant part of Menendez’s latest indictment centered on Sellinger’s role as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor.
Sellinger testified that Menendez sought to discuss the prosecution of a New Jersey real estate developer before recommending him to be the U.S. Attorney, after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting and provide input on the proposed reforms.
Comments and suggestions can also be submitted via email at USANJ.Community.Trenton@usdoj.gov or by phone at 973-645-2801.
The DOJ may seek a consent decree to ensure compliance with the reforms, similar to measures implemented in Newark in 2016.
Federal officials say they will continue to monitor TPD’s progress and engage with the community to build trust and accountability, but police oversight is not likely to be a priority for the incoming Trump administration.