Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard has come under scrutiny following the arrest of Jennifer Lackard, a city employee appointed to lead the newly established police department Wellness Unit, along with her husband and son, in connection to an alleged gang-related shooting.
Lackard was hired in 2020 by the Mount Vernon Police Department despite lacking formal law enforcement experience. City officials confirmed that Mayor Patterson-Howard and Lackard share ties as sorority sisters in Delta Sigma Theta and are members of the same local congregation, Grace Baptist Church. Sources suggest that the church’s pastor, the Rev. Franklyn Richardson, who is known to wield significant influence in the community, may have played a role in facilitating Lackard’s employment. However, the mayor’s office has denied any personal connection prior to her hiring and stated that Lackard’s appointment was made through the established process under the former Police Commissioner Glenn Scott.
The position commanded an annual salary of $125,000, and questions remain about whether other candidates were considered, as city officials declined to comment on the hiring process or any potential influence from Patterson-Howard’s reported personal relationship. A photograph circulating on social media depicts the two women together, suggesting a more familiar association than the mayor’s office acknowledges.
Lackard’s tenure ended abruptly last week after she, her husband James Lackard, and their 20-year-old son, Chase Lackard, were arrested for their alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting targeting a gang rival on June 29. All three face charges including attempted murder, conspiracy, attempted assault, and weapons offenses. Jennifer and Chase Lackard were apprehended at their Bronx residence on Tuesday, while James Lackard turned himself in to New York Police Department authorities on Thursday.
The incident highlighted concerns about Lackard’s family background, notably involving her husband’s prior drug conviction and her son’s reported affiliation with a street gang. According to a statement from Mayor Patterson-Howard issued Wednesday, Lackard was selected due to her 15 years of experience in mental health and substance abuse services, aligning with the Wellness Unit’s mission. The mayor emphasized that Lackard underwent a thorough background check before hiring and maintained that her husband’s criminal record did not preclude her from the role.
Chase Lackard was reportedly wounded in a separate gang-related shooting on a Bronx city bus in 2023, drawing Mount Vernon police to the hospital where he was treated. The mayor’s office has not disclosed whether this incident influenced any internal decisions regarding Lackard’s employment.
The mayor ultimately terminated Lackard’s employment last Tuesday following her arrest. The investigation remains active as authorities scrutinize the extent of the family’s involvement in gang activity within the region.