July 01, 2015
As recent high-profile cases push concerns about police-involved shootings further into the national spotlight, Philadelphia and Camden have been at the forefront of efforts to implement reform.
In a memo sent out on Tuesday, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey informed all districts that the PPD will begin releasing the names of officers who discharge their firearms in officer-involved shootings within 72 hours of the incident.
The action, which the memo says is in keeping with the Department of Justice Collaborative Reform and Presidential Task Force reports, took effect immediately. The Department plans to evaluate each incident to determine whether threats have been made toward the officer or members of their family prior to the release of names.
Already, the new policy aimed at transparency has drawn harsh criticism from the Fraternal Order of Police, according to CBS 3.
“It’s ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous, there is no reason for it,” said Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby.
“I don’t like the fact that they didn’t have the common courtesy to sit down and tell the FOP a damn thing about it, that’s what I am pissed off about."
The police union has reportedly filed a charge to the state labor board to obtain a hearing in hopes of overturning the recommendation. Their opposition to the policy is in part because of a belief that three days is too soon to disclose an officer's identity amid a police investigation.
