The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) is looking into a police practice called “mere encounters.” People in Philadelphia have filed complaints about this practice. They say it makes them and their kids feel “humiliated,” “criminalized,” and “racially profiled.” Some people also said police did other bad things, like illegal pat-downs, illegal searches, being rude, and even using force.

What is a mere encounter?

A mere encounter happens when a police officer walks up to a person who is not doing anything wrong. The person is free to leave and may refuse to answer the officer’s questions. But people don’t always know that.

Officers often ask:

• “Do you have a gun?”

• “Can you lift up your shirt?”

• “What’s inside your bag?”

Community Participation 

• If you have had a mere encounter or know someone who has, please visit Phila.gov/freetoleave to tell your story.

Next Steps

Here’s what we plan to do:

• Ask the Philadelphia Police Department for data and body camera videos from encounters marked as “mere encounters.”

• Learn about people’s experiences through our survey (in English and Spanish, more languages coming).

• Organize Community Workshops in neighborhoods around the city. At these workshops, people will learn about their rights and get to talk about their experiences in a group. Email us to request workshop information!