Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) have announced a Finding of Probable Cause against the Mount Laurel Police Department (MLPD). The department is accused of violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination by not providing bias-incident response services to residents of color facing race-based harassment.
Two Black residents from Essex Place Condominium Complex in Mount Laurel filed complaints with DCR, claiming that MLPD did not adequately investigate repeated harassment reports involving Edward Cagney Mathews. These incidents included verbal and written racial slurs, vandalism, and intimidation towards Black residents. Despite numerous complaints, action was only taken after a public disturbance incident in July 2021 went viral, leading to Mathews's arrest and subsequent conviction.
Attorney General Platkin expressed concern over MLPD's alleged failure to respond appropriately to these incidents, emphasizing the need for law enforcement agencies to protect all residents from race-based harassment. Yolanda N. Melville, Director of DCR, highlighted the importance of identifying conduct breakdowns as a first step toward corrective action.
The investigation revealed that before Mathews's arrest in July 2021, MLPD received about 40 reports regarding his behavior but failed to follow proper investigative protocols. Some officers admitted they avoided interviewing Mathews due to fear of provoking him. DCR concluded that MLPD’s lack of response allowed Mathews’s actions to escalate over several years.
The Finding of Probable Cause does not represent a final decision but indicates sufficient evidence supporting reasonable suspicion that LAD violations occurred. The case will proceed to conciliation for potential resolution; if unresolved, it may go to court under prosecution by a Deputy Attorney General.
