Newark May Miss Federal Deadline for Police Reforms

Newark’s Police Department has missed several deadlines outlined in a federal plan designed to improve poor community and police relations.

The U. S. Department of Justice entered into a legal agreement with the City of Newark and the Newark Police Department in 2016 that put the city on a five year course for police reforms. The city agreed to the consent decree after a federal investigation found that officers were violating citizens' rights. Among other things, Newark Police Department officers were discovered stealing from citizens and using excessive force during arrests.

Peter Harvey, a former Attorney General for New Jersey who is serving as the Independent Monitor, is charged with tracking the city’s progress in meeting the federal mandates. He said it successfully created  a brand new policy on bias-free policing and on the use of force when interacting with citizens.

But he said the city is lagging behind deadlines for training its 1,100 officers, and the software system is not equipped to perform the tasks needed to audit police reports or monitor officers’ activities.

Harvey said the city neglected training as a way of saving money, but if it wants to meet deadlines, it will need to invest.

City officials did not respond to a request for comment.