Former Mount Vernon Deputy Police Commissioner Jennifer Lackard faces attempted murder charges following her arrest for allegedly driving her son to a Bronx gang shooting on June 29.
The arrest has sparked sharp political backlash as prominent local Democrats remain largely silent regarding the actions of the former official.
Lackard was hired in 2020 by Democratic Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard despite having no prior experience in law enforcement.
The mayor, who is also Lackard’s sorority sister, stated that the hiring followed a rigorous background check.
Prosecutors allege that Lackard, alongside her ex-con husband James Lackard, drove their son Chase Lackard to a scheduled court hearing before seeking out a rival gang member.
Authorities stated that the son fired at the rival from the family’s vehicle but missed before they all fled the scene.
While the city immediately terminated her employment, many Democratic figures have declined or ignored requests to condemn the incident.
Mount Vernon represents a crucial Democratic stronghold in the county, boasting over 31,000 registered Democrats compared to only 2,800 Republicans.
Expressing strong disapproval of the silence, Republican National Committee spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre condemned the political caution.
In an official statement, Baldassarre remarked, “Democrats are the first to preach ‘no one is above the law’ until it screws them politically”.
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson for New York Governor Kathy Hochul offered a general statement about public safety and ethical expectations.
Hochul’s representative emphasized, “Those entrusted with keeping New Yorkers safe must be held to the highest ethical and professional standards, and anyone whose actions jeopardize the critical mission of law enforcement must be investigated and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law”.
State Senator Jamaal Bailey, whose district includes parts of Mount Vernon, offered a more direct reaction but noted that employee behavior is unpredictable.
Bailey characterized the allegations as “unacceptable and incredibly serious,” stating that such actions have “no place within our communities”.
🗳️ Would you like me to analyze how local election statistics or past mayoral scandals in Mount Vernon compare to this current controversy?