Key facts
- Jennifer Lackard, deputy police commissioner for safety in Mount Vernon, was fired.
- She was arrested and charged with attempted murder, assault, gun possession, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment.
- The charges are related to a shooting outside Bronx criminal court on June 29.
- Her son, Chase Lackard, is accused of firing shots, with Jennifer Lackard allegedly driving the getaway vehicle.
- Mount Vernon stated Lackard's termination was for conduct unrelated to her official duties.
- Chase Lackard has a history of prior arrests and shootings.
Jennifer Lackard, the deputy police commissioner for safety in Mount Vernon, New York, was fired on Tuesday following her arrest on charges including attempted murder. The city stated her termination was for conduct unrelated to her official duties.
Lackard, 49, and her 20-year-old son, Chase Lackard, were arrested at their home in the Bronx. According to the New York Daily News, citing police sources, they face charges of attempted murder, assault, gun possession, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment. These charges are connected to shots fired outside Bronx criminal court on June 29, during which Chase Lackard allegedly acted as the gunman and Jennifer Lackard drove the getaway vehicle.
No one was injured in the shooting incident. The Mount Vernon police department acknowledged the charges and confirmed Lackard's immediate termination, emphasizing that the allegations did not stem from her departmental responsibilities.
According to government transparency website See Through NY, Lackard's salary was $138,219 in 2025. Chase Lackard has a documented history of prior shootings and arrests. In January 2023, he was reportedly shot and faced charges after a dispute. In November 2024, he was shot by police in the Bronx after allegedly pointing a firearm at an officer. He was also arrested in September 2024 on a gun charge.
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard had previously called Jennifer Lackard a valuable team member and expressed prayers for her son's recovery during past incidents. No lawyer was immediately listed for the Lackards, and the city of Mount Vernon declined to comment on the underlying allegations.