Jennifer Lackard, the deputy police commissioner for safety in Mount Vernon, New York, has been fired after she allegedly served as the getaway driver for her son in a shooting being investigated as attempted murder.
The city of Mount Vernon announced her termination in an Instagram post on Tuesday, stating that the allegations were "unrelated to her duties" with the police department.
Arrest and Charges
Lackard, 49, and her 20-year-old son Chase were arrested in an early morning raid at their home in the Bronx on Tuesday, according to police sources cited by the New York Daily News. They face charges including attempted murder, attempted assault, gun possession, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment.
The charges stem from an incident on June 29, when shots were fired at a group of people outside the Bronx criminal court. Chase Lackard is alleged to have been the gunman, and his mother is accused of driving the getaway car at high speed. No one was struck or injured.
Official Statement
The Mount Vernon police department acknowledged the charges in a statement: "The Mount Vernon police department is aware of the criminal charges filed by the Bronx county district attorney's office against former deputy commissioner of wellness, Jennifer Lackard. Effective immediately, the city of Mount Vernon has terminated Jennifer Lackard's employment. The allegations are unrelated to her duties with the Mount Vernon [police] and do not stem from any conduct associated with the department or the performance of her official responsibilities."
According to the See Through NY transparency website, Lackard's salary was $138,219 in 2025.
Previous Incidents
Chase Lackard had previously been shot multiple times. In January 2023, at age 17, he was shot in the chest on a bus in a dispute over gang signs. In November 2024, Bronx police shot him after he allegedly pointed a pistol at an officer's car.
Jennifer Lackard was also arrested in September 2024 on a gun charge, according to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell. Following that incident, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard called it "a personal matter."
No lawyer was listed for the Lackards on Tuesday. The city of Mount Vernon said it would not comment on the underlying allegations.
