Mount Vernon Deputy Police Commissioner Jennifer Lackard was fired and charged after authorities accused her of driving the getaway car for her son's alleged gang-related shooting. The incident occurred on June 29 near the Bronx Criminal Court.
Lackard, 49, and her son Chase, 20, were arrested by the New York Police Department in connection with the drive-by shooting. Lackard previously served as the deputy commissioner of wellness for the Mount Vernon Police Department, a role in which she was tasked with police reform, civilian complaint review board implementation, and officer wellness.
According to reports, Lackard and Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard are sorority sisters. When Lackard was hired in July 2020, the city stated she brought a "wealth of knowledge and resources" and had experience at the community level, including as president of a prison re-entry ministry. However, in a 2020 interview, she acknowledged taking a "leap of faith" to get the position, having never worked for a police department prior.
She also held advisory roles on the Westchester County Probation Advisory Board and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Implementation Task Force.
The City of Mount Vernon issued a statement indicating that Lackard's employment was terminated immediately. The city stated that the allegations were unrelated to her duties with the Mount Vernon Police Department and did not stem from her official responsibilities. Attorneys for Jennifer and Chase Lackard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.