MOUNT VERNON — The city of Mount Vernon terminated Jennifer Lackard's employment as deputy police commissioner following her arrest on Tuesday. The termination was announced on an Instagram post by the city of Mount Vernon.

Lackard, 49, and her son Chase Lackard, 20, were arrested at their home in the Bronx. Authorities charged both individuals with attempted murder, attempted assault, gun possession, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment. The charges are connected to shots fired at a group of people outside Bronx criminal court on June 29. Nobody was struck or injured during the June 29 shooting.

Investigators alleged that Chase Lackard was the gunman in the incident. They further alleged that Jennifer Lackard drove the getaway car from the scene. No lawyer was immediately listed for Jennifer Lackard or Chase Lackard on Tuesday, and they were awaiting arraignment on Tuesday afternoon.

The city of Mount Vernon stated the allegations against Lackard are unrelated to her duties with the police department. Officials added that the allegations do not stem from any conduct associated with the department or the performance of official responsibilities. The city of Mount Vernon said it 'will not comment on the underlying allegations' because it is an active criminal matter being prosecuted by the Bronx County District Attorney's Office.

Jennifer Lackard held the title of deputy police commissioner for safety and deputy police commissioner of wellness. Her salary was $138,000 in 2025. Before her appointment as deputy police commissioner in 2020, Lackard was a graduate of the NYPD’s Citizen Police Academy and served on Bronx Community Board 9. She was also appointed to a subcommittee of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice task force to develop re-entry programs for the borough-based jail system.

Lackard founded Re-Entry Link LLC, a re-entry organization for formerly incarcerated individuals, and served on the Westchester Probation Advisory Board to reduce jail overcrowding and recidivism. Her professional background in public safety contrasted with recent legal issues involving her family. In September 2024, Jennifer Lackard was arrested on a gun charge. New York City police department chief of patrol John Chell confirmed Jennifer Lackard's September 2024 arrest.

Following that incident, Mount Vernon mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard called the September 2024 incident 'a personal matter' and said 'we are praying for the family'. Earlier, in January 2023, Patterson-Howard had called Jennifer Lackard 'a valuable member of our leadership team'. The mayor's past statements showed Lackard's standing within the administration prior to the recent arrests.

Chase Lackard has been involved in multiple prior incidents. In November 2024, Chase Lackard was shot by police in the Bronx. He was 19 years old at the time.

Police responded to reports of a large fight before shooting him. Authorities alleged that Chase Lackard pointed a 9mm pistol at an officer’s car during the encounter. He received two gunshot wounds to a leg and was criminally charged following the November 2024 incident.

Previous reports indicated that Chase Lackard was allegedly a member of the 'Slutty Gang'. In January 2023, Chase Lackard was shot when he was 17 years old. That incident involved a reported dispute over gang signs with three other boys.

A 14-year-old member of a rival gang was arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with the January 2023 shooting. Additionally, Jennifer Lackard's husband, James Lackard, was arrested on federal drug charges in 2012. This led to the closure of the Ivy House Center for Self-Sufficiency, which they co-founded in 2007.

The termination of a high-ranking public safety official reflects the intersection of municipal leadership and personal legal liability. Lackard held dual roles overseeing safety and wellness while earning a six-figure salary, positioning her as a key figure in Mount Vernon's administrative structure. The city's immediate action to terminate her employment, while simultaneously stating the allegations were unrelated to her official duties, reflects a strategy to separate institutional responsibility from individual criminal conduct. The involvement of the Bronx County District Attorney's Office ensures the case proceeds through standard criminal channels, independent of Mount Vernon's internal personnel decisions.

The case also shows a pattern of legal and violent incidents involving Lackard's immediate family over several years. From the closure of a nonprofit co-founded with her husband in 2012 to multiple shootings involving her son in 2023 and 2024, the Lackard family has faced recurring scrutiny. The most recent charges, including attempted murder and conspiracy, represent the most severe legal challenges yet. The outcome of the arraignment and subsequent prosecution will determine the long-term legal consequences for both Jennifer and Chase Lackard, while Mount Vernon faces the task of filling the vacant deputy commissioner roles.

Why It Matters

The termination of a deputy police commissioner overseeing safety and wellness shows the immediate employment consequences for high-ranking officials facing serious criminal charges, even when allegations are unrelated to official duties. This action shifts the status of a six-figure leader from a valued administration member to a defendant awaiting arraignment on charges including attempted murder and conspiracy. The move establishes a precedent where personal legal liability involving family members results in removal from municipal leadership roles.