Thompkins, et al v. City of McKeesport Police Department, et al

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas against the city of McKeesport, Allegheny County, and numerous named and unnamed police officers regarding the violation Fourth Amendment rights during a December 2020 police search.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas against the city of McKeesport, Allegheny County, and numerous named and unnamed police officers, among others, regarding the violation of some McKeesport residents’ Fourth Amendment rights and the Pennsylvania Constitution during a police search for a shooting suspect in December of 2020.

On December 20, 2020, police from McKeesport and Allegheny County began an aggressive manhunt for a suspect wanted in the shooting of a police officer. The search targeted Black residents of McKeesport with abusive tactics, such as brandishing firearms, demanding entry into homes at gunpoint without a warrant, and using excessive force during traffic stops. White residents of McKeesport reported being treated far less harshly.

The lawsuit seeks to hold line officers and high ranking decision-makers within both the city of McKeesport and the Allegheny County police departments accountable for their unnecessary, unlawful, and unconstitutional actions by asking for compensatory damages and injunctive relief.

In early 2026, the city of McKeesport and its police department agreed to settle the lawsuit. The settlement includes a number of reforms, including an update to its Citizen Complaint Policy to allow for anonymous complaints to be submitted online, a schedule of public safety meetings throughout the year, a new training program with a focus on racial sensitivity, a thorough review and analysis of the December 2020 manhunt, and a small monetary settlement for the plaintiffs.