A suburban New York police department routinely violated residents’ civil rights, including making illegal arrests and using unnecessary strip and cavity searches, according to a new U.S. Department of Justice report.

The department conducted illegal strip searches until at least 2023, according to an investigation. However, the practice may have continued.

Mount Vernon police department is being accused of making illegal arrests and conducting illegal strip searches by the Department of Justice

A report from the Department of Justice finds that the police department in a New York City suburb grossly violated residents’ rights, documenting illegal strip searches of people who weren’t