East Hampton Police Officer Steps Down After Links to ‘Proud Boys’ Found

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has been conducting a nationwide inquiry into law enforcement with known ties to White supremacist and other organizations with bigoted views.

During its investigation, the Lawyers’ Committee presented evidence to Chief Dennis Woessner regarding the association and membership of one of the Department’s police officers with the Proud Boys. Proud Boys is a male-chauvinist group with ties to White nationalism whose members regularly engage in violence.

After calling for his removal, the officer stepped down.

Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement: “Officer Wilcox's resignation following our exposure of his membership in the Proud Boys is an important step in ensuring African Americans and other communities of color have faith in their local law enforcement.” She continued, “White supremacists and others holding bigoted views infiltrating law enforcement is a national crisis and must be part of the strategy for confronting escalating levels of hate crime in our country. 

About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. Now in its 56th year, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is continuing its quest to “Move America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and voting rights. For more information, please visit their website.