“Independent Investigations Denied — But Not Abandoned. Police get generous pay increases without any substantive discipline reforms.”
Philadelphia, PA — The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) today responded to the recently announced Police Employment contract award, which declined CPOC the contractual authority to conduct independent investigations into allegations of police misconduct.
“This was the first time CPOC testified in support of independent investigations during the police contract process,” said Executive Director Tonya McClary. “We came prepared, we made the case, and we spoke with one voice alongside the community. We provided testimony from national law enforcement experts about CPOC’s ability to conduct independent investigations. Despite all of that, we were not awarded the opportunity to do so. Philadelphia still needs and wants independent investigations that are fair, thorough, and unbiased.”
From Councilmember Curtis Jones
“I am disappointed that the contract participants did not have the foresight to see that the powers of independent investigations by CPOC protect citizens as well as our uniformed officers. We will not be deterred from fair evaluations of the citizens’ complaints. CPOC will have to be creative in providing well informed investigations.” – Councilmember Curtis Jones
Months of Advocacy — and a Clear Demand from the Public
CPOC participated in the November arbitration hearing, supported by community leaders, advocates, faith leaders, and residents who understand that independent oversight is about fairness, public trust, and effective accountability. We need a system that is fair for all citizens and officers, not a system that fails to address bad behavior.
What Happened Behind the Scenes
Despite the words of support from the Office of Public Safety in today’s press conference, the City did not partner with CPOC or champion CPOC’s investigative authority. The arbitration hearing occurred over a series of days. Yet CPOC was disallowed from attending or otherwise witnessing the proceedings. Instead, CPOC was given a brief timeslot to testify independently. While the process was completely closed to CPOC and the public, current or retired members of the FOP were allowed and encouraged to attend. Arbitrations are not confidential by law – they may be made public by agreement of the parties. Despite the strong public policy reasons to make this process transparent and accessible to the public, the City and the FOP agreed to proceed behind closed doors.
The terms of the police contract fail to implement publicly-mandated reforms passed into law by City Council, further undermining Philadelphia’s trust in PPD’s ability to police themselves.
Where We Go from Here
The final award does not explicitly provide CPOC with a contractual authority to launch its own investigations. We are disappointed that the award makes no reference to CPOC’s legal mandate. CPOC presented on our years of partnership with PPD to build relationships and move forward reforms, but the award said, “the Panel recommends that the Commission invest in fostering stronger relationships with both the Police Department and the FOP as it fulfills its current role.”
“This award ignored City law and the input of Philadelphians,” said McClary, “CPOC was created to serve the people of Philadelphia. That doesn’t stop because unelected arbitrators say ‘no.’ We are reviewing all options to secure the accountability system this city deserves.”
CPOC will continue to report to the public, listen to both civilians and officers, and fight for an oversight system that is independent, transparent, and worthy of the people’s trust.
Media Inquiries:
For more information please contact Jodie Eichel at (215) 685-0891, Jodie.Eichel@phila.gov
About the Citizens Police Oversight Commission: The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) is an independent oversight agency designed to ensure the just, transparent, and efficient administration of criminal justice in Philadelphia. CPOC is committed to conducting fair and timely investigations into police conduct, enhancing the quality of internal investigations, and fostering community engagement and trust.