Once again, members of the Police Advisory Commission are seeking information from the District Attorney’s Office about the killing of a transgender woman, and they’re willing to go to court this time.
Gathered at the William Way LGBT Community Center this week, the first time the commission has held a meeting in the LGBT community, the PAC distributed copies of letters sent to District Attorney R. Seth Williams and Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, seeking more information on the incident.
Nizah Morris, 47, was found on a Center City street with a fatal head wound shortly after she received a courtesy ride from Philadelphia police. She died two days later, on Dec. 24, 2002, from complications due to a fractured skull.
The Medical Examiner ruled the case a homicide, and it remains unsolved.
Mayor Nutter appointed 14 new members last year to the PAC, which serves as a watchdog agency for possible police misconduct.
The PAC letter to Williams seeks “any and all 911 tapes, transcripts or other documents or materials that relate in any way to the matter of Nizah Morris.”
The letter also requests from the DA an itemized list of materials already furnished to the commission, and a “privilege log” detailing the information being withheld.
Alexandra Hackett, a spokesperson for Williams, had no comment on the letter.
In January 2008, the police said the police homicide file in the Morris case was lost.
The PAC letter to Ramsey seeks information about the “status of the Police Department’s efforts to reconstitute the Morris homicide file.”
It also asks Ramsey to explain what the department is doing to determine how the file was misplaced.
Police spokesperson Lt. Ray Evers confirmed the commissioner received the letter and said Ramsey is looking into it.
PAC member Ronda B. Goldfein explained the need for the letters.
“The PAC sees a need to clean up outstanding matters,” she said after the meeting. “This case has gone on a long time, and we need information to reach a fair conclusion. And that fair conclusion is something that the PAC owes not just to Ms. Morris’ family or the LGBT community, but to the city that charged us with investigating and resolving these complaints.”
The homicide file was transferred to the DA’s Office in 2003, when the DA conducted a joint investigation with police. The police say the file was never returned to them, but that the DA can’t find it either.
However, the DA has retained its own Morris homicide file, which it refuses to make public in its entirety.
In November 2007, before learning of the missing file, the PAC issued a report about the Morris case that cleared police of any responsibility in her death. However, the report recommended departmental guidelines on courtesy rides, along with additional police training.
So far, Ramsey, appointed in January 2008, hasn’t responded to the report.
When asked if the PAC is resigned to the fact that Ramsey may not respond, PAC member James C. Crumlish 3rd said, “We’re not resigned to anything.”
PAC member Chuck Volz, who is openly gay, said he’s taking a fresh approach to the case, noting it might be necessary to have a new round of public hearings.
Four days of hearings were held in 2006-07.
In 2008, after learning about the missing homicide file, PAC members reopened the case and subpoenaed additional Morris records from then-DA Lynne Abraham.
When Abraham refused to comply, the PAC signed a nondisclosure agreement and viewed records at the DA’s Office.
Goldfein said safeguards have been instituted in the PAC’s internal operating procedures to prevent a similar occurrence.
“We retained the ability to enter into an [nondisclosure] agreement,” she said, “but included the provision that it must be agreed to by three-fourths of the commissioners. That will ensure that such an agreement won’t be taken lightly.”
Volz said the Morris nondisclosure agreement currently in place doesn’t prevent the PAC from going to court to ensure that any new information received from the DA is made publicly available.
“If we’re not satisfied with what we get from the DA’s office, we’re going to court,” Volz said.
Trans activist Kathleen R. Padilla praised the new PAC. She’s a former PAC member, but didn’t serve on the board when the non-disclosure agreement went into effect.
“As a former PAC member, I’m very encouraged to see a revitalized commission taking a serious look at the Nizah Morris case, and making sure they have the entire record before issuing another report,” Padilla told PGN.
Stephen A. Glassman, chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, echoed Padilla’s sentiments.
“I’m very encouraged by the fact there’s an entirely new set of commissioners who appear to be very interested in moving forward and obtaining every piece of information that will enlighten the public as to what actually happened in the Nizah Morris case,” Glassman said.
PAC members said they will report back to the community at the next public meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at 990 Spring Garden St., seventh floor.
Also at the Jan. 17 meeting, the PAC elected Mu’min Islam as the new chair. Volz was elected as secretary and Crumlish was elected as parliamentarian.
The PAC will elect two vice-chairs at its next meeting.
Tim Cwiek can be reached at [email protected]