Mount Vernon Deputy Police Commissioner Jennifer Lackard has been fired and charged with attempted murder for allegedly driving her son to a gang shooting that occurred outside a Bronx courthouse on June 29. Her son, Chase Lackard, a reputed gang member, and her husband, James Lackard, who is a former convict, were also involved in the incident. James Lackard remains at large.
Questions have emerged regarding how Jennifer Lackard, 49, secured her position in the Mount Vernon Police Department in 2020. She was hired by Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard to lead the department's Wellness Unit, a role reportedly created for her. Lackard's background did not include extensive law enforcement experience but rather focused on inmate re-entry programs and advocacy for the accused. Her starting salary for this year was $125,000.
Mayor Patterson-Howard stated that Lackard underwent a thorough background check, which included employment history, fingerprinting, financial disclosures, medical clearance, and a criminal background check. The mayor added that information about Lackard's husband's criminal history was reviewed and deemed not disqualifying for her civilian role. Patterson-Howard cited Lackard's 15 years of experience in mental health and substance abuse services as qualifications. "No employer can predict future personal conduct," the mayor said in a statement.
According to Bronx prosecutors, Chase Lackard, 20, fired at a rival from the window of a gray Chrysler Pacifica, with his mother allegedly driving. Both parents were reportedly in the vehicle. The incident occurred after Chase Lackard left Bronx court. He was facing charges for a November incident where he allegedly pulled a gun on NYPD officers and was wounded in the leg. He had previously been arrested in August for possession of a loaded gun and in January 2023, was the victim of a shooting after confronting a group on a Bronx bus.
Jennifer and James Lackard previously founded Ivy House Center for Self-Sufficiency in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 2007. This government-funded nonprofit provided counseling to criminal defendants with mental health issues or substance abuse addictions. Jennifer Lackard served as CEO until 2009. After closing that program, she moved to New York and established Re-Entry Link LLC in the Bronx, where she also served on Community Board 9.
Mount Vernon has experienced a series of controversies involving its police department and city officials in recent years. Councilman Andre Wallace commented that these events are damaging the city's reputation and hindering its ability to conduct business. Previous mayors Ernie Davis and Richard Thomas were also arrested while in office.
Chase Lackard's girlfriend, Brianna Harris, was taken into custody following his arrest but was released without bail on a lesser charge.