Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD or Philly PD) is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The PPD is one of the oldest municipal police agencies,[5] fourth largest police force[6] and sixth largest non-federal law enforcement agency in the United States. Since records were first kept in 1828, at least 289 PPD officers have died in the line of duty.[7]
Philadelphia Police Department | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | PPD |
Motto | Honor, Integrity, Service |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 1854[1] |
Annual budget | $774 m (2020)[2] |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
General nature | |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | 400 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
Police officers | 6,400 (2021) [3] |
Mayor of Philadelphia responsible | |
Agency executive |
|
Facilities | |
multiple small boats | 4 |
helicopters | 4 |
Website | |
Official Site |
The Philadelphia Police Department has a history of police brutality, intimidation, coercion, and disregard for constitutional rights,[8][9] particularly during the tenure of Frank Rizzo as police commissioner (1967–1971) and mayor (1972–1980).[10][11][12][13] The patterns of police brutality were documented in a 1978 Pulitzer Prize–winning Philadelphia Inquirer series by William K. Marimow and Jon Neuman.[14]
History
Philadelphia established a night watch in 1797, and employed its first police officers to patrol the streets in daytime in 1833. The two entities were combined in 1854 to form the Philadelphia Police Department, which was modeled on London's Metropolitan Police.[1]
In 1870, a Philadelphia policeman shot and killed Henry Truman, an unarmed Black man in an alley. He was found guilty of manslaughter.[8]
In 1887, the police department was put under control of the city's Department of Public Safety. Two years later, the PPD inaugurated its mounted patrol, which was disbanded in 2004 but restored in 2011.[15]
In 1913, L. M. Gillespie became one of the first women police officers in Philadelphia.[16] Major race riots broke out in 1919 and 1964. [17]
In 1970, a well publicized raid of the Black Panther Party occurred.[18][19] During the weekend of August 29–30, 1970, seven Philadelphia policemen were shot during widespread racial tension.[20]
In 1974, the Pennsylvania Crime Commission's "Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia" concluded "that police corruption in Philadelphia is ongoing, widespread, systematic, and occurring at all levels of the police department. Corrupt practices were uncovered during the investigation in every police district and involved police officers ranging in rank from policeman to inspector. Specific acts of corruption involving improper cash payments to the police by gamblers, racketeers, bar owners, businessmen, nightclub owners, after-hours club owners, prostitutes, and others are detailed in the report. More than 400 individual police officers are identified by first name, last initial, and badge or payroll number as receiving improper payments in terms of cash, merchandise, sexual services, or meals."[21]
A 1978 Pulitzer Prize-winning Philadelphia Inquirer series by William K. Marimow and Jon Neuman documented extensive patterns of police brutality in the PPD.[14] The tenure of Frank Rizzo as police commissioner (1967–1971) and mayor (1972–1980) has frequently been characterized as a period in which the PPD engaged in extensive police brutality and discriminatory policing.[10][11][12][13]
In 1985, federal judge Clarence Charles Newcomer criticized the PPD for indiscriminately arresting a number Spanish-speaking people after an officer was killed, calling the arrests "unlawful" and "disgraceful".[22]
In 1985, a residential eviction against an anarcho-primitivist organization called MOVE lead to a shootout between the group and the PDD. During the standoff, a PPD helicopter dropped C-4 explosive onto the house, often referred to as the MOVE compound, causing a fire that killed six adults and five children in the house, and burning 65 other houses to the ground. The incident was investigated by the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission (MOVE).[23]
In 2000, Thomas Jones was beaten while wounded by more than one dozen law enforcement officers.[24]
In 2012, the PPD's education and/or experience requirements were increased to include at least one of four new options, including 60 college credits.[25]
In 2017, the PPD announced they would be moving the headquarters to the old Inquirer Building.[26]
In 2018, the Philadelphia Police Department's Gun Violence Reduction Task Force was founded within the Detective Bureau. The Task Force was created to focus on violent offenders/prior convicts in possession of firearms.
In 2019, 72 Philadelphia police officers are taken off street duty over racist and hateful Facebook posts.[27] In 2019, August 2019 Philadelphia shooting: Six PPD officers are shot and injured while serving a drug warrant.[28]
In 2019, Commissioner Ross resigns amid sexual harassment claims within the organization.[29]
In 2020, during the George Floyd protests in Philadelphia, Police Staff Inspector Joseph Bologna was suspended and charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly hit a student protester with a baton.[30] Other incidents caught on video involving Bologna regarding the 2020 protests saw him tackling a female protester who had touched his bicycle, lunging at a journalist, and hitting a security guard.[31] Previously in the 2000s, Bologna was videoed instructing his officers to turn off security cameras for a raid, and was suspended for "failing to properly supervise". A West Philadelphia unit he managed in the 2010s accumulated many misconduct complaints.[32]
In 2021, the city of Philadelphia paid $2 million to a Black woman who in 2020 was pulled from a car and beaten by PPD officers, as well as separated from her toddler for hours. The Fraternal Order of Police posted pictures on social media claiming "This child was lost during the violent riots in Philadelphia, wandering around barefoot in an area that was experiencing complete lawlessness. The only thing this Philadelphia Police Officer cared about in that moment was protecting this child." The officers involved in the beating of the woman and her separation from the toddler have since been fired.[33]
In 2021, a PPD detective was reassigned and investigated after the department received evidence indicating she had attended the January 6 rally in support of overturning the 2020 presidential election result that preceded the U.S. Capitol attack.[34]
A 2021 report found that of more than 9,000 civilian complaints against PPD officers, "only 0.5% of civilian allegations resulted in any recorded consequence beyond a reprimand."[35][36] The study found that not a single allegation of civil rights violations (including racial profiling and racial slurs by officers) was upheld.[36]
In 2023, Philadelphia police shot and killed Eddie Irizarry during a traffic stop; the initial narrative given by Philadelphia police was that Irizarry was outside his vehicle, told by officers to drop a weapon, and "lunged at the officers", prompting the shooting.[37] A day later, Philadelphia police admitted that Irizarry was actually inside his car during the shooting.[37] Body camera footage showed Irizarry being shot through his car's rolled-up driver-side window, around five seconds after the shooting officer alighted from a police car.[38] The shooting officer has been charged with murder.[38]
In late October 2023, Officer Patrick Heron accepted a pela deal that would place him in confinement for between fifteen and forty years. He had been accused of 200 counts related to charges of unlawful contact, sexual abuse of children, and forgery.[39]
Notable investigations
- 1894-95, Detective Frank P. Geyer investigated H. H. Holmes, one of America's first serial killers who confessed to killing twenty-seven men, women, and children, some of which were later determined to be alive. Holmes killed his business partner, Benjamin Pitezel, in Philadelphia and later killed three of Pitezel's young children (two in Irvington, and one in Canada). Detective Geyer is credited with finding the bodies of the three children after a cross-country, international investigation.[40][41]
- 1981, PPD officer Daniel Faulkner was fatally shot by Mumia Abu-Jamal (né Wesley Cook) while performing a routine traffic stop of the latter's brother, William Cook. A jury convicted Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther Party member, of first degree murder. He was sentenced to death in 1982, but in 2011 prosecutors said they would drop their pursuit of his execution and agreed to accept de facto life imprisonment without parole. The incident, subsequent trial and Abu-Jamal's conviction remain controversial in the US and around the world.
- 1999, serial killer Gary Heidnik was executed by lethal injection. Heidnik kidnapped, tortured and raped six women and kept them prisoner in his Philadelphia basement. A jury convicted Heidnik of the first degree murders of two of the women and sentenced him to death.[42]
- 2001, American Ira Samuel Einhorn, a.k.a. "The Unicorn Killer" (born May 15, 1940), was extradited from France back to Philadelphia to stand trial for the 1977 murder of Holly Maddux. Einhorn was an outspoken activist in the 1960s and '70s. In 1981, Einhorn fled to Europe to avoid the trial. In 1993, Einhorn had a trial in absentia and was convicted of first degree murder. In 2002, he was retried and again convicted. Einhorn was sentenced to life in prison without parole.[43][44]
- 2012, Antonio Rodriguez,[45] a.k.a. "The Kensington Strangler", received three life sentences for murdering three women in 2010.[46] The PPD convinced Rodriguez to confess after arresting him.[47]
- 2013, a federal jury convicted drug lord Kaboni Savage and his sister, Kidada, of orchestrating the 2004 firebomb murders of a witness's six family members and of conspiring to participate in a violent drug enterprise. The jury convicted Kaboni of 12 murders in total and he was later sentenced to death.[48][49]
Present day
The PPD employs over 6,400 sworn officers and over 800 civilian personnel,[50] and patrols an area of 369.4 km2 (142.6 mi2) with a population of almost 1.5 million. The department is subdivided into 21 patrol districts, and like many other large municipal police forces, it incorporates many special units such as a K-9 squad, SWAT, bomb squad, community relations unit, and marine unit. The highest-ranking officer is Commissioner Danielle Outlaw.
Organization
The head of the PPD is the commissioner, who is appointed by the mayor. The current commissioner is Danielle Outlaw (2020 - present).[51]
Under the commissioner are two three-star deputy commissioners. The First Deputy Commissioner heads Field Operations. The Deputy Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer heads Organizational Services, Strategy, and Innovation.
The Office of Field Operations is headed by the three-star First Deputy Commissioner of Field Operations, currently Myron Patterson (2016 – Present). The force comprises two commands, Patrol Operations and, Specialized Operations and Homeland Security; each command is headed by a two-star Deputy Commissioner. The Specialized Operations and Homeland Security command is headed by a two-star Deputy Commissioner, currently Dennis Wilson, and divided into two bureaus, Specialized Investigations and Homeland Security Bureau; each is headed by a chief inspector and further subdivided into several units.
The Office of Organizational Services, Strategy, and Innovation is headed by the three-star Deputy Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer, currently Dennis Wilson is fulfilling these duties in addition to his normal duties.
Patrol Operations is headed by a two-star Deputy Commissioner of Patrol Operations, currently Melvin Singleton, who oversees both the patrol and detective units. Patrol Operations is divided into two regional commands, Regional Operations Command (North) and Regional Operations Command (South). Each regional command is headed by a chief inspector, and is subdivided into three divisions (ROC-North: East, Northwest, Northeast; ROC-South: Central, Southwest, South). Each division is headed by an inspector.[52] A division comprises three or four districts; there are 21 patrol districts in all, and each district is headed by a captain. Each district is subdivided into three or four police service areas (PSA's), each headed by a lieutenant, for a total of 64 PSA's citywide.[53]
In January 2013, Commissioner Ramsey announced changes to the command structure of the department lowering the number of deputy commissioners from 9 to 6. Ramsey only replaced one of the deputies who was promoted from staff inspector of the Internal Affairs Bureau to deputy commissioner of the Office of Professional Responsibility.
Mounted units
The beginnings of the mounted unit can be traced to the Fairmount Park Mounted Guard created in 1867. In 1889 the Philadelphia Police Mounted Patrol Unit was established. The Philadelphia Police unit survived until 1952, however, the Fairmount Park unit would be used for parades and crowd control measures. The Fairmount Park Mounted Guard became the Fairmount Park Police in 1966, but maintained the same responsibilities. In 1972, Mayor Frank Rizzo found it unnecessary for taxpayers to fund two separate police departments, and merged the Fairmount Park Police into the Philadelphia Police, creating the Park Division. The mounted unit was once again used to patrol the streets of Philadelphia. The mounted unit survived to celebrate 100 years in 1989, but was disbanded in 2004 due to budgetary cuts by Mayor John F. Street's administration. On July 18, 2008, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey confirmed that plans are in the works to recreate the mounted unit.[54] The Philadelphia Inquirer again reported on June 2, 2009, that Ramsey hoped to revive the unit once the city was in a better financial standing.[55] The continued recreation of the Mounted Unit took an additional step forward on October 31, 2011, when the city announced plans to build a new facility for the unit in Fairmount Park.[56]
Ranks within the Philadelphia Police Department
Title | Insignia | Uniform Shirt Color | Type of Rank | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Police Commissioner | White |
Command rank. Appointed by the city's managing director with the approval of the mayor | [57][58] | |
First Deputy Police Commissioner | White |
Command rank. Appointed by the city's managing director with the approval of the mayor | [57][58] | |
Deputy Police Commissioner | White |
Command rank. Appointed by the city's managing director with the approval of the mayor | [57][58] | |
Chief Inspector | White |
Command rank. Civil service rank | [57][58] | |
Inspector | White |
Command rank. Civil service rank | [57][58] | |
Staff Inspector | White |
Command rank. Civil service rank | [57][58] | |
Captain | White |
Command rank. Civil service rank | [57][58] | |
Lieutenant | White |
Managerial rank. Civil service rank | [57][58] | |
Sergeant | White |
Supervisory rank. Civil service rank | [58] | |
Corporal | Blue |
Supervisory rank. Civil service rank | [58] | |
Police Officer | No Insignia | Blue |
Operational rank. Civil service rank | [58] |
Police Officer Recruit | No Insignia | Blue |
[58] |
Rank descriptions
To be promoted in the Philadelphia Police Department, police officers must finish their first year in the department. Then, when the next Corporal or Detective test is announced, they are eligible to take the test. Philadelphia PD Test for Corporal and Detectives is a written multiple choice test, lasting two to three hours. Also part of an officer's score is based on seniority.[59]
The ranks of Corporal and Detective have the same pay grade, but have different functions. The rank of Corporal is the first supervisory rank.[58] Corporals are "operations room supervisors" and are responsible for overseeing a patrol district's operations room, or a special unit's operations; i.e., ensure that reports are submitted accurately and in a timely manner, etc. Only rarely do Corporals work the street. A Corporal must have a minimum of a year's experience as a police officer.[60]
Sergeants command a squad of officers, making assignments to beats, assigning traffic details, helping to supervise the radio room, commanding Marine Unit patrol boats and performing other similar tasks. When assigned to the Detective Bureau, a Sergeant interviews suspects and witnesses, assigns Detectives to cases and investigates clues, among other duties. Sergeants must have a minimum of two years experience as a Police Officer, or a year's experience as a Corporal or Detective.[61]
The rank of Lieutenant is a managerial rank.[58] Lieutenants command an assigned area in a police district or a specialized unit, such as a traffic unit. If assigned to the Detective Bureau, a Lieutenant supervises an investigation. Lieutenants must have a minimum of one year's experience as a sergeant.[62]
The rank of Captain is the first command rank.[58] Captains either command police districts or direct the activities of a specialized unit. When assigned as a detective, a Captain organizes and directs surveillance activities and police raids, prepares cases, interviews and interrogates suspects and testifies in court. Captains must have a minimum of one year's experience as a Lieutenant.[63]
Staff inspectors are usually departmental administrative officers, serving on the police Command Staff under a commissioner or deputy commissioner. They are generally assigned to inspect police divisions, districts and units, evaluate police practices, equipment and personnel, and make recommendations for improvement where necessary; however, they may also command units and divisions. Staff Inspectors must have a minimum of one year's service as a Captain.[64]
Inspectors are senior executive officers who typically command divisions and supervise officers under their command during any major police action, disaster or emergency. Inspectors must have a minimum of one year's service as a Staff Inspector or Captain.[65]
Chief Inspectors are senior departmental administrative officers who either command bureaus within the department or are in charge of a regional command.They also inspect police divisions, districts and units, evaluate police practices, equipment and personnel, and make recommendations for improvement where necessary. Chief Inspectors must have a minimum of one year's service as a Staff Inspector.[66]
Deputy Commissioners and above are appointed by the city managing director with mayoral approval, not by the city civil service. The two First Deputy Commissioners head the Office of Field Operations and the Office of Organizational Accountability. The commissioner is appointed by the city managing director with mayoral approval, and is in charge of the entire department.[67]
Detectives
Detectives are part of the Detective Bureau, and may be assigned to Detective Divisions, or specialized units like Homicide, Shooting Investigation Group, Organized Crime/Intelligence, Special Victims Unit, Gun Permits Unit and Background Investigation. The commanding officer of a detective division (a Captain) reports to the Inspector of Detective Bureau Headquarters. The ranking supervisor at Detective Bureau Headquarters is the Chief Inspector of the Detective Bureau. Detectives are not considered supervisory personnel, despite being equivalent to a Corporal in pay grade. Detectives are a civil service rank of their own, and take orders from a Sergeant. There are also Police Officers who serve in an investigative capacity, such as in the Juvenile Aid and Special Victims Units. Police Officers who are assigned to the Detective Bureau are paid the same pay as a Police Officer assigned to patrol.
Unlike most law enforcement agencies, the Philadelphia Police Department Detective Bureau does not maintain the ranks such as Detective Sergeant or Detective Lieutenant, etc. The supervisors (Sergeant, Lieutenant & Captain) in the Detective Bureau can be transferred back to patrol, and are required to maintain a uniform. Also, unlike other departments such as NYPD, Chicago PD, and LAPD, Philadelphia Police Detectives do not have a uniform that can be worn during details or funerals. The prescribed attire of a Philadelphia Police Detective is proper business attire, and the rank of Detective is a permanent, plainclothes, civil service assignment. In the Philadelphia Police Department, the rank of Detective can only be made by a civil service exam and there are no grade differentiations. This is in contrast to NYPD that has the ability to make field promotions to the rank of Detective for an outstanding performance or circumstance
Demographics
The PPD's officers are and have been of many ethnicities. A large number of Irish Americans have been PPD officers since the 1850s.
Awards and honors
Decorations
- Sgt. Robert F. Wilson III Commendation for Valor
- Commendation for Bravery
- Commendation for Heroism
- Commendation for Merit
- Commendatory Citation
- RNC Service Ribbon
- Military Service Ribbon
- Covid Ribbon
George Fencl Award
The George Fencl Award, named in honor of Philadelphia Police Officer George Fencl, is given by the Daily News to a Philadelphia Police Officer who exemplifies compassion, fairness, and civic commitment. The award was first given in 1986.[69]
Year | Rank | Name | District/Division |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Captain | David Morrell | 26th District, Commanding Officer |
1987 | Officer | Wiley L. Redding | 35th District, Community Relations |
1988 | Officer | Joe Donato | 19th District |
1989 | Captain | Al Lewis | 22nd District, Commanding Officer |
1990 | Lieutenant | Jose Manuel Melendez | East Division, Community Interaction Task Force |
1991 | Captain | George Fenzil | Traffic Unit, Commanding Officer |
1992 | Lieutenant | Stephen Johnson | Police Conflict-Prevention and Resolution Unit, Commanding Officer |
1993 | Officer | Edwin "Bo" Diaz | 26th District, Community Relations |
1994 | Captain | Arthur Durrant | 26th District, Commanding Officer |
1995 | Officer | James Perkins | 2nd District |
1996 | Officer | Joseph Dembeck | 14th District |
1997 | Officer | Brenda Robinson-Stowe | 16th District, Mounted Officer |
1998 | Captain | William Colarulo | 25th District, Commanding Officer |
1999 | Officer | Bernard Turner | 22nd District |
2000 | Chief Inspector | Dexter Green | Special Operations Unit, Commanding Officer |
2001 | Deputy Commissioner | Sylvester Johnson | Patrol, Narcotics, Detectives, and Special Operations, Commanding Officer |
2002 | Captain | William Fisher | Civil Affairs Unit, Commanding Officer |
2003 | Officer | Ruth McNatte | 16th District, Community Relations |
2004 | Chief Inspector | James Tiano | Community Affairs Bureau, Commanding Officer |
2005 | Officer | Darlene Chapman-Cummings | Anti-Drug Program: DARE |
2006 | Officer | AnnaMae Law | 26th District |
2007 | Sergeant | Kimberly Byrd | Chief of Staff |
2008 | Captain | Kevin Bethel | 17th District, Commanding Officer |
2009 | Officer | Adrian Hospedale | 12th District |
2010 | Officer | Richard "Butch" Riddick | 12th District |
2011 | Officer | Joseph Young | 12th District, Community Relations |
Officers who died on duty
Over 260 Philadelphia Police Department officers have died on duty.[70] In 1996, Lauretha Vaird became the first female PPD officer to be killed in the line of duty from gunfire.
See also
- Criminal Justice Center (Philadelphia)
- List of law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania
- 39th District corruption scandal— "a persistent pattern of brutality and corruption among a cadre of Philadelphia Police Department officers, primarily from the Department's 39th District"
- Philadelphia Fire Department
- Philadelphia Highway Patrol
References
- Spillane, Joseph F.; Wolcott, David B. (2013). A History of Modern American Criminal Justice. SAGE. p. 13. ISBN 9781412981347.
- "Suggested Budget for Fiscal Year 2021" (PDF). City of Philadelphia, Office of the Director of Finance. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- "About the department". Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- "Philadelphia Police Department". Philadelphia Police Department. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- "How the U.S. Got Its Police Force". Time. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- "ABOUT US". Philadelphia Police Department. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- "Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania, Fallen Officers". Officer Down Memorial Page. July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- Russ, Dain Saint, Craig R. McCoy, Tommy Rowan, Valerie (2020). "Black and Blue: 190 years of police brutality against Black people in Philadelphia". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ""The Relationship Has Always Been Tense." The Philadelphia Police Department Has a Longstanding History of Racial Tension With The Black Community". Time. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- Williams, Suzanne Ife. Police brutality: case study of Philadelphia/Move. OCLC 84480572.
- Blumgart, Jake (October 22, 2015). "The Brutal Legacy of Frank Rizzo, the Most Notorious Cop in Philadelphia History". Vice. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Times, Gregory Jaynes Special to The New York (November 9, 1978). "Philadelphia's Message to Rizzo: 'Enough'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Blumgart, Jake (September 18, 2018). "How Philly's Frank Rizzo Rode 'Blue-Collar Conservatism' to Victory". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- "Sketches of Pulitzer Prize Winners in Journalism, the Arts and Letters". The New York Times. April 18, 1978. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- "Restored Phila. mounted police unit gets back in the saddle". philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- "Philadelphia Has Two Policewomen. They are Mrs. Diehl and Miss L. M. Gillespie". Oswego Daily Times. May 2, 1913.
- Doing No Good Time Magazine
- Bolling, D."He's Seen It All", CityPaper.net August 22, 2002
- "85th Birthday Celebration for Elwood P. Smith". Phillynewmedia.com. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- Gibbons, Thomas J., Jr. (July 9, 2016). "Ex-cop: I know the pain of Dallas - I was shot in 1970 amid racial turmoil". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia". National Institute of Justice.
- Douglas Martin (August 28, 2005). "CLARENCE NEWCOMER, 82, LONGTIME FEDERAL JUDGE," South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- "Excerpts from the Commissions' Report on Bombing". New York Times. March 7, 1986.
- Robinson, Bryan (January 7, 2006). "Philiadelphia Police Beat Suspect". ABC News. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
- "Qualifications and Requirements". phillypolice.com. PPD. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- MacDonald, Tom (May 24, 2017). "Philly police headquarters moving to former Inquirer building on North Broad". WHYY. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- "Philadelphia, St. Louis police departments roiled by racist and hateful Facebook posts". cnn. com. June 19, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- Burgess, Sanya (August 15, 2019). "Philadelphia: Man in custody after six police officers shot". Sky News. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- Grace Hauck (August 21, 2019), "Philadelphia police head resigns amid sexual harassment, discrimination allegations", USA Today, retrieved August 21, 2019
- "Police officer surrenders to face charges in protest arrest". Associated Press. June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- Bender, William; Roebuck, Jeremy (June 5, 2020). "Philadelphia Police Inspector Joseph Bologna will face assault charges in the beating of a Temple student at a protest". inquirer.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- Bender, William; Roebuck, Jeremy; Whelan, Aubrey (June 6, 2020). "Notorious Philly cop, charged with beating Temple student, has a checkered and charmed past". inquirer.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- Li, David K. (September 14, 2021). "Philadelphia to pay $2M to Black woman beaten by officers, separated from toddler during unrest". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- Newall, Mike; Bender, William (January 10, 2021). "Philadelphia police detective subject of Internal Affairs investigation after allegedly attending D.C. rally". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- "Report: Less than 1% of civilian complaints filed against Philly police result in discipline". WHYY. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- "Collaborative Review and Reform of the PPD Police Board of Inquiry: Policy, Practice, and Custom Report" (PDF). Police Advisory Commission. 2021.
- Xing, Jessica (August 18, 2023). "Aunt of man killed by Philadelphia officer says family is 'frustrated' after police change initial narrative". CNN. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- Freeman, Danny; McCleary, Kelly; Sanchez, Ray; Beech, Samantha; Gingras, Brynn (September 8, 2023). "Police officer who fatally shot Eddie Irizarry faces murder, other charges". CNN. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- Holden, Joe. "Ex-Philadelphia officer Patrick Heron pleads guilty to sex crimes". CBS News. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- Crighton, JD (2017). Detective in the White City: The Real Story of Frank Geyer. Murrieta, CA: RW Publishing House. pp. 136–208. ISBN 978-1-946100-02-3.
- Geyer, Frank P. (1896). The Holmes-Pitezel case: a history of the greatest crime of the century and of the search for the missing Pitezel children. Philadelphia, PA: Publishers' Union.
- "Horrors' Killer Gets His Wish Victims' Kin Watch As Gary Heidnik Gets Lethal Injection". philly.com. Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- "Ronnie Polaneczky: The Ira Einhorn Interview". philly.com. Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- "KNIGHT: Earth Day co-founder written out of history". The Washington Times. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- "Experts: Kensington Strangler Is Classified as 'Sexual Serial Killer'". abcnews.go.com. ABC. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- "3 life sentences for man in Kensington stranglings". philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "'Kensington Strangler' suspect Antonio Rodriguez: I had sex with victims after they were dead". New York Daily News. February 10, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- "Drug Kingpin Kaboni Savage and Sister Kidada Convicted of Arson Murders". fbi.gov. FBI. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- Martin, John P. "Death penalty for Kaboni Savage". philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- "Home - About Us". Philadelphia Police Department. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- Palmer, Chris; Gambacorta, David; Orso, Anna (December 30, 2019). "Philadelphia's new police commissioner is Danielle Outlaw of Portland, Ore". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- "Senior Staff | 17th Police District". 17thppd.org. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- "Philadelphia Police Department Command Chart" (PDF). Phillypolice.com. November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- Hanson, Tony (July 18, 2008). "Phila. to Rebuild Its Mounted Police Unit". KYW Newsradio. Archived from the original on January 15, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
- Gambardello, Joseph (June 2, 2008). "Philly police Segway patrols ready to roll". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
- Clark, Vernon (October 31, 2011). "City to build $1.4 million home for police mounted unit". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
- "Directive 6.7: Uniforms and Equipment" (PDF). Philadelphia Police Department. City of Philadelphia. June 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Directive 7.19: Departmental Organization and Authority" (PDF). Philadelphia Police Department. City of Philadelphia. February 13, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Careers - Overview | Philadelphia Police Department". Phillypolice.com. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- "Police Corporal". Office of Human Resources. City of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Police Sergeant". Office of Human Resources. City of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Police Lieutenant". Office of Human Resources. City of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Police Captain". Office of Human Resources. City of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Police Staff Inspector". Office of Human Resources. City of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Police Inspector". Office of Human Resources. City of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Chief Police Inspector". Office of Human Resources. City of Philadelphia. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- Philadelphia, Office of Human Resources - City of. "Phila.gov - Human Resources - Job Class Specifications". phila.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- "Philadelphia Police Force Still Far Whiter Than City Itself". April 14, 2015.
- Glover, Sarah J. (June 3, 2010). "Fencl Award winners over the years". Philly.com. Philadelphia, PA, US: Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- "Memorial at PhillyHeroes.org". Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2018.