Trenton police are under fire from federal investigators about the department’s excessive use of force and stop-and-search tactics.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s report released last week, Trenton police reported 815 incidents of use of force between March 2020 and the end of 2023. Of those, 744 were physical force, 120 were the use of pepper spray, and one incident involved a firearm.

“TPD officers use pepper spray unreasonably,” the report read. “Officers spray people who pose no threat but merely challenge officers’ authority—which, on its own, is not grounds for the use of force.”

Follow NJ Spotlight News’ ongoing coverage of the investigation and the its aftermath.