Investigation of Yonkers Police Dept. Practices Began in 2007
Mayor Mike Spano and Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza mark a historic day in City history by announcing the compliance of a Department of Justice investigation and subsequent termination of an agreement to ensure constitutional policing.
The Department of Justice today announced the termination of the agreement, which began in 2016 acknowledging the tremendous effort of the City of Yonkers and Yonkers Police Department.
“What we have accomplished has changed the hearts and minds of the Justice Department,” said Mayor Spano. “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.”
The agreement required the Yonkers Police Department to improve its policies and practices regarding the use of force, stops, searches, arrests, the protection of First Amendment rights, misconduct investigations and discipline and community policing. The City and Police Department has implemented all of the reforms required by that agreement and sustained those reforms for more than a year.
“Under the direction of Mayor Spano, the Yonkers Police Department revised numerous policies, procedures, training, and documentation pertaining to uses of force,” said Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza. “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.”
The Department of Justice recognized the Yonkers Police Department for its improvements in the constitutionality and effectiveness of its policing including a 22% reduction in violent crime over the last five years, a significant reduction of excessive force settlements, and decreased allegations of unlawful uses of force.
The Yonkers Police Department is also engaged in dozens of community programs including Be the Change, Coffee with a Cop, YPD Cadets, National Night Out, and the Neighborhood Stabilization Team.
The City of Yonkers is the third largest city in New York State and Westchester County’s largest city. Yonkers is the gateway to the Hudson Valley with more than 40 vibrant and diverse suburban neighborhoods. First settled as a small farm town in 1646 settled by Dutchman Adriaen Van Der Donck, Yonkers evolved into a major trading and industrial center. Today, Yonkers hosts the largest film production studios in the Northeast, claiming the title Hollywood on Hudson. Yonkers is one of the safest cities of its size in the nation and is home to a vibrant arts district along with more than 80 local parks.
