( CNN ) -- The FBI has arrested three East Haven , Connecticut , police patrol officers and one sergeant for their alleged role in the mistreatment of Latinos -- the first arrests to stem from a federal investigation into racial profiling in that town . The men allegedly threatened and assaulted detainees , made false arrests -- including one against a local clergy member -- and later conspired to cover up evidence of their conduct by falsifying reports and blocking an investigation , prosecutors said Tuesday during a news conference in Bridgeport . Sgt . John Miller and officers David Cari , Dennis Spaulding and Jason Zullo were arrested early Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to `` injure , oppress , threaten , and intimidate various members of the East Haven community , '' profiling residents during traffic stops , performing illegal searches and harassing Latino business owners and their advocates , according to the indictment . `` They behaved like bullies with badges , '' said Janice Fedarcyk , assistant FBI director in New York . On one occasion on January 21 , 2009 , Spaulding and Zullo allegedly assaulted two individuals they had arrested under false pretenses , slamming their heads against the station 's cell block walls , the indictment said . The indictment cited a similar incident in which Miller allegedly struck a detainee who was handcuffed after being propped up by two other patrol officers . The men also dismissed a police commission inquiry into their alleged misconduct , it said , calling on the support of local union leaders to block and intimidate municipal investigators . The defendants could not be immediately reached for comment , and the East Haven Police Department referred press inquiries to the mayor 's office . `` It 's unfortunate that it had to come to arrests , '' said Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. , who said his office `` stands behind the East Haven Police Department . '' `` They 're innocent until proven guilty , '' he said . Maturo , in an interview with CNN affiliate WPIX , indicated that he saw no problem with not having any Latinos on the East Haven police force . When asked what he would do for the Latino community on Tuesday , Maturo said , `` I might have tacos when I go home , I 'm not quite sure yet . '' The arrests come just weeks after a scathing Department of Justice report , derived from an investigation that began in September 2009 , accusing the town 's police of engaging in `` discriminatory policing against Latinos . '' In a letter to Maturo , Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas J. Perez said the practice was `` deeply rooted in the department 's culture , '' citing statistical analysis that showed Latinos had been `` intentionally targeted '' for traffic stops . The letter provided an example of a particular officer 's stops , 40.5 % of which were of Latino drivers . Overall , the investigation found that 19.9 % of traffic stops made by East Haven police were against Latino drivers , concluding it `` shows pervasive discrimination against Latinos on every level of EHPD traffic enforcement activity . '' The report also accused some officers of conducting unauthorized immigration investigations . It mentioned `` numerous incident reports '' in which officers contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement to check on the status or seek an immigration detention of a Latino . Investigators said the tactic was `` used to harass and intimidate Latinos rather than pursue legitimate law enforcement objectives . '' But Maturo said he does n't believe allegations of such systemic discrimination in East Haven are accurate . `` We have an open community here , '' he said . Maturo elaborated in a news release : `` The Town of East Haven is prepared to do all that is necessary to address the consequences of this morning 's grand jury indictment . While the Town has several factors to consider , the most important priority is ensuring the continued protection of our Town 's residents . To that end , I met with several shifts of officers at our Police Department this morning to ensure that police service to our Town would not be interrupted today and moving forward . '' According to 2010 census data , East Haven has a population of some 29,000 people , with about 10.3 % identifying as Hispanic or Latino . The vast majority of residents , 88.5 % , are white , while close to 3 % identify as black or African-American . Still , Maturo said , there have been changes in the wake of the December report . An independent commission of community members , external consultants and former law enforcement officials has been formed to head off future allegations by revising police policies . The mayor cited a series of reforms , including revisions to complaint review policies and training , and pointed to a revised East Haven police handbook , the first update since 1972 . `` It was an outdated book , '' Maturo said .
NEW : Mayor 's reaction to Department of Justice affiliate : `` I might have tacos when I go home '' `` They behaved like bullies with badges , '' an CNN official says . one patrol officers and one sergeant will face charges in federal court . Arrests come weeks after a scathing FBI report on Bridgeport police .