WASHINGTON, DC. – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has been conducting a nationwide inquiry into law enforcement with known ties to white supremacist and extremist organizations. Today, the organization released the results of its investigation into the East Hampton Police Department in Connecticut. During its investigation, the Lawyers’ Committee presented evidence to Chief Dennis Woessner regarding the association and membership of one of the Department’s police officers with the Proud Boys. Proud Boys is a male-chauvinist group with ties to white nationalism whose members regularly engage in violence.
Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement: “The infiltration of white supremacists into police departments is a national crisis. As communities contend with rising hate crimes, it is critical that African Americans and people of color have faith in local law enforcement. Police officers who affiliate with white supremacist groups contribute to a climate of fear and mistrust, infect the ranks with bias and racism, and exacerbate the divides between communities of color and the police.” Clarke continued, “We call for the removal of Officer Wilcox from the East Hampton Police Department given his confirmed ties to the ‘Proud Boys’ and call for a Justice Department investigation to determine whether the officer and the department have violated federal civil rights laws.”
In July, the Lawyers’ Committee called for the Chief to conduct an inquiry. On September 26, 2019, Chief Woessner informed the Lawyers’ Committee that despite confirming that the officer in question made payments to Proud Boys, he deemed the matter closed as “unfounded.”
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law demands immediate remedial action and a thorough review of any stops, arrests, or investigations carried out by Officer Wilcox as well as a list of any public complaints that contain allegations of racial discrimination, harassment, or bias. The Lawyers’ Committee also calls for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Mr. Wilcox to determine if the officer violated federal civil rights laws or other requirements.
