A federal judge has lifted a 2016 court order requiring a monitor of Newark’s police force, ruling that reforms have been effective at curbing unconstitutional stops, searches, excessive use of force and other abuses.

In 2016, the city of Newark and the U.S. Justice Department entered into an agreement calling for implementation of the reforms and the appointment of a monitor after the ACLU of New Jersey compiled a detailed history of police abuses.

A subsequent investigation and lawsuit against Newark by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark resulted in the court-approved agreement, known as a consent decree .

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Cox Arleo officially lifted the consent decree, giving Newark’s civilian and police leadership a passing grade and ending n

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