NEWARK -- Mayor Ras Baraka vowed the city would continue its police department reforms despite actions by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that could threaten federal agreements overhauling troubled agencies.

In a two-page memo, Sessions directed a nationwide review of consent decrees -- agreements reached by the Department of Justice with local police departments that were a key part of President Obama's legacy.

The DOJ reached an agreement with Newark in 2016 to drastically reform its police force after a federal probe uncovered civil rights abuses by officers. Between 2009-12, 75 percent of pedestrian stops with a documented reason were unjustified, the probe found.

"We're going to continue to do what is right even it we don't have a decree," Baraka told NJ Advance Media, adding that he didn't think Sessions' directive would have an immediate impact on the city.

"We all agree here, that there needs to be systemic changes and we're going to make those changes," he said.

Dianna Houenou, policy counsel for the ACLU-New Jersey, said her team and the community would ensure reform comes to Newark.

"Everybody has been ready for changes for a long time," Houenou said. She said the memo was broad and vague and "not specific enough to let us know what exactly is going to happen."

"It sends the notion that the DOJ is going to take a step back when it comes to enforcing civil rights, it's pretty alarming," she added.

Because a U.S. District Court approved the city's consent decree, any reversals of the agreement would require court intervention, Baraka said.

"They can't reverse a court decision," he said. "They can't stop the consent decree itself but they can do other things not to be cooperative."

Houenou said the DOJ could become a "weak enforcer" of the decree though reforms are also overseen by an independent team.

Members of Independent Monitoring Team declined to comment, citing the need to remain impartial in the process.

In Sessions' March 31 memo, he ordered two of his deputies to ensure all agreements comply with certain principles, including one that states: "the misdeeds of individual bad actors should not impugn or undermine the legitimate and honorable work" of law enforcement.

Based on the memo, Baraka said he didn't think Sessions understood the purpose and scope of a consent decree.

"He is saying that the department is being punished for the behavior of a few officers and that's clearly not what the consent decree is. The consent decree talks about patterns and practices," Baraka said. "The consent decree is designed to deal with those systemic things that create a culture of violating people's rights."

A spokesman for the Justice Department in Washington D.C. declined to comment beyond the Sessions memo.

Newark Fraternal Order of Police President James Stewart Jr. said he welcomed the Justice Department's review but believed the consent decree would remain in place.

"It sends a positive message to law enforcement nationwide that at least somebody is listening to our side of the story," Stewart said. He said the union was hopeful reforms would bring new training and technology to officers in Newark.

"The FOP, as we have said from day one, looks forward to the positive changes and new technology, and training that the consent decree will bring to Newark, which will help bring about a better relationship between police and the community, making Newark a better place for all," he added.

Baraka said he worried Sessions would erode gains to restore relationships between police departments and their communities. More than two dozen cities, like Seattle, Chicago and Cleveland have consent decrees.

"It's extremely important for the city for people to begin looking at the police department as their own. Those are our neighborhoods, our family members, we know them," he said. "It's important people begin to trust the police."

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.