Thursday, 6 August 2026, 15:40
A former New York police official is accused of being the getaway driver for her son after he allegedly shot at a suspected rival gang member near a Bronx courthouse. Jennifer Lackard, 49, was arrested and then fired from her position with the Mount Vernon Police Department. The case has drawn national attention because of the unusual allegations against a high-ranking law enforcement figure.
According to WABC, Chase Lackard fired multiple shots at a suspected rival gang member in June. No one was hit. After the shooting, he left the scene in a car driven by his mother, prosecutors allege. Both were arrested at their home on Tuesday, and Chase appeared in court Wednesday for arraignment, FOX 5 New York reported.
The Mount Vernon Police Department said on Wednesday that it is aware of the criminal charges filed by the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. The department confirmed that Jennifer Lackard's employment was terminated effective immediately. Police said the allegations are unrelated to her official duties and stem from an active criminal matter.
Jennifer and Chase Lackard were each charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment, according to WABC via Bakersfield Now. Jennifer Lackard pleaded not guilty. Her bail was set at $75,000, and her next court appearance is scheduled for September.
The allegations are unrelated to her duties with the Mount Vernon Police Department and do not stem from any conduct associated with the department or the performance of her official responsibilities, police said.
ABC News described Lackard as Mount Vernon's deputy commissioner of public safety. Bakersfield Now and CBS New York identified her as deputy commissioner of wellness in the community affairs division. FOX 5 New York spelled her son's name 'Lacquert' in its report, while other outlets used 'Lackard.' The district attorney's office has not clarified which spelling is correct.
This case unfolded in New York, not California. But it has been widely covered by national outlets because of the involvement of a senior police official. For California readers, the story highlights the potential for public corruption and misconduct cases to emerge outside an officer's official duties. No California agency is connected to the investigation.
The shooting happened in June. Police have not released the identity of the suspected rival gang member. WABC reported that Chase Lackard has a history with police. The Mount Vernon Police Department has declined to comment on the underlying allegations while the criminal case is pending.
The case now moves through the Bronx County court system. Jennifer Lackard remains free on $75,000 bail while awaiting her September hearing. The charges against her and her son carry the possibility of prison time, and the former deputy commissioner's career is already over. The court will decide whether prosecutors can prove the alleged getaway driver role.
