Senator Tammy Duckworth Requests DOJ Investigation into Alleged Windsor Police Misconduct

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has requested that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division investigate a December 5, 2020, incident involving alleged law enforcement misconduct by Windsor Police Department officers, including excessive use of force against Lieutenant Caron Nazario, an active-duty U.S. Army Officer. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and outrage nationwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The incident involves allegations of law enforcement misconduct, including excessive use of force, against Lieutenant Caron Nazario, an active-duty U.S. Army Officer.
  • The U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth has requested a DOJ investigation into the matter, citing the need to determine whether a broader pattern or practice of misconduct exists within the Windsor Police Department.
  • The alleged misconduct includes stops, searches, or arrests that violate the Fourth Amendment, excessive force, discriminatory policing, and violations of constitutional rights.
  • Duckworth has also requested a "pattern-or-practice" investigation to determine whether the incident is indicative of systemic deficiencies within the Windsor Police Department.
  • The Senator has reintroduced legislation aimed at restoring trust between law enforcement and communities, which includes provisions to prevent police-involved deaths and promote independent investigations into law enforcement use of deadly force.

Statistics:

  • 2 police officers were involved in the alleged misconduct against Lieutenant Caron Nazario.
  • 18 U.S. Senate colleagues have cosponsored Duckworth's legislation to restore trust between law enforcement and communities.
  • The U.S. Department of Justice has conducted "pattern-or-practice" investigations in departments as small as 6 officers and as large as 17,000 officers.

Sources:

  • U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
  • U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division
  • United States Army Medical Corps
  • The Windsor Police Department