January 16, 2026
FORT LEE, NJ – The Justice for Victoria Coalition, a diverse group of Asian American organizations that came together to support community members and advocate for systemic change in the aftermath of the killing of Victoria Lee by Fort Lee police, applauded the recent passage of A4175/S2348, a bill codifying the Attorney General’s Use of Force Directive.
The law affirms core principles around the use of force by law enforcement, including respecting the sanctity of life, the duty to use only proportional and necessary force, and the duty to use deadly force only as a last resort following all reasonable de-escalation efforts. Officers must also render medical aid after any use of force, and there are specific guidelines for safely resolving situations involving barricaded individuals. This new legislation further requires the Attorney General to review Use of Force every two years, with public input, and to incorporate de-escalation training in basic training.
AAPI NJ and the Justice for Victoria Coalition joined Salvation and Social Justice in supporting this bill after the Fort Lee police killed Victoria Lee in July 2024 while responding to her mental health call–one of over 100 people who have been killed by police in New Jersey since 2019. Over a third of use of force incidents in NJ involve people experiencing mental health crises, and almost half of all deadly uses of force are mental health related, as in the killings of Andrew Washington, Najee Seabrooks, and Deborah Terrell.
“Every life is sacred, and each person needlessly killed by police is as precious to someone as Victoria Lee was to her family. This historic legislation will help to ensure our state keeps moving forward in reducing excessive use of force by law enforcement, and affirms our shared commitment to a future where everyone can access help safely when they need it,” said Amber Reed, Co-Executive Director of AAPI NJ. “We thank Governor Murphy for signing this historic bill into law; Attorney General Platkin for his leadership in advancing the core principles that this legislation codifies; Asw. Ellen Park, Senator Troy Singleton, and all of the sponsors who courageously took up this bill; the Legislature for listening to our communities’ voices; and Salvation and Social Justice and other advocates who have worked with tireless determination to make our state safer for all.”
Key champions and Justice for Victoria Coalition members also shared their reflections on this historic legislation:
“I am so happy and thankful to the Legislature and Governor Murphy for signing law A-4175 into law,” said Assemblywoman Ellen Park of District 37, which includes Fort Lee. “Every year there is an unfortunate incident where the police are called to assist in a mental health crisis and it leads to a fatality, including the death of Victoria Lee in Fort Lee. The death of Victoria has had a profound effect on our community. As the chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, it is my aspiration to make New Jersey a safer place for all regardless of your race, faith, gender. We are all part of a larger community called New Jersey; when one person is harmed, we are all affected.”
“Time and again, police have failed the people they are sworn to protect — choosing violence over restraint and lethal force over de-escalation,” said Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate. “This pattern has led to countless deaths and has eroded the trust between law enforcement and the communities they claim to serve. By requiring police officers to prioritize de-escalation, this legislation is a necessary step toward curbing reckless use of force. We welcome state lawmakers’ action to prevent the kind of unnecessary and unjust violence that took Victoria Lee’s life in 2023 and to ensure this never happens again.”
“A person’s life does not become less valuable because of their mental state or perceived level of compliance,” Zellie Imani, lead organizer of Black Lives Matter Paterson said. “In moments when someone is most vulnerable or at heightened risk of police violence, the response must never be to justify harm, but to actively prevent it. Justice means protecting people in crisis who cannot protect themselves—not placing them in greater danger.”
“For our community, Victoria Lee is not a headline—she is a daughter; this law must be implemented with transparency and accountability that families can finally trust,” said Sylvia Kim, Publisher, Mom&I Magazine (Korean American Community Media).
“The passage of this bill is an important step forward in rebuilding trust with the community by those that have sworn an oath to protect that community,” said Richard In, Executive Director of KACE (Korean American Civic Empowerment). “State action without proper safeguards and accountability does not make a just or democratic society. There remain many steps left ahead, and we applaud lawmakers making a courageous step toward the right direction. Justice deferred is justice denied; Victoria Lee should still be alive.”
“Victoria Lee was a daughter, a sister, a friend—a life full of promise that was cruelly taken too soon. Her absence is a wound felt deeply by everyone who knew and loved her. Passing A4175 is more than a policy,” said Seongwon Kim of Minkwon Center for Community Action. “It is a lifeline of accountability and a message that our communities deserve protection they can trust. Without oversight, power can be turned against recklessly, and faith in our institutions falters. While no legislation can bring back Victoria, this law is a necessary step towards restoring community trust through accountable action.”
“Korean Community Services (KCS) welcomes the news that the Use of Force bill sponsored by Ellen Park was at last signed into law. As this information enters our local ethnic media, it is clear from the feedback of our clients and the community that Victoria Lee and her family are not forgotten,” said Yuna Youn of Korean Community Services. “We are hopeful for continuing progress in collaborations between policymakers, institutions, and non-profits like KCS to help create safer policies and greater awareness. When KCS provides direct services, it is more than providing a therapy session or medication management. It is an opportunity to build connection and trust between our clients and all the institutions they must interface with for their recovery. By building these connections, we envision KCS to be a site of repair and a bridge for the vital mental health support the community needs.”
“Signing the Use of Force into Law is another step forward regarding accountable policing. We still need a strong CCRB Bill and the release of the funding to implement the groundbreaking Seabrooks-Washington bill, creating community-led crisis response teams for people facing mental health crises so we can save lives like those of Najee Seabrooks and Andrew Washington, whom it was named after, and others who came after them like Victoria Lee and Deborah Terrrell,” said an emphatic Zayid Muhammad of New Jersey Communities for Accountable Policing.
