Philadelphia City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. introduced legislation this month to revamp the city’s Police Advisory Commission.
The PAC is a civilian-watchdog agency that investigates citizen complaints of police misconduct and makes recommendations for remedial action. Its staff and commissioners largely serve at the pleasure of the incumbent mayor.
Jones’ bill would establish more autonomy for the PAC, boost its staffing and funding levels and ensure complaints don’t languish.
The measure, introduced Sept. 11, must be approved by voters before the changes could go into effect. A timetable for such a ballot initiative isn’t specified in Jones’ bill.
The PAC currently has three staffers — an executive director and two investigators. It has been without a receptionist for several months.
Jones’ bill would increase the PAC’s annual budget from about $206,000 to about $1 million. It also would triple the number of PAC investigators, from two to six.
The number of commissioners would increase from 15 to 20, and City Council would play a larger role in selecting commissioners and ensuring vacancies are promptly filled.
For about 10 years, the PAC intermittently investigated the case of Nizah Morris, a transgender woman who became a homicide victim shortly after entering a police vehicle in 2002.
In 2013, the PAC issued a report that recommended state and federal probes of the Morris homicide, which remains unsolved.
Anne Todd, an LGBT ally, has attended numerous PAC meetings, “hoping they would get to the truth” about the Morris killing, she told PGN. “They tried to get information about the police officers’ questionable actions before and after her death. For 12 years, the police have blocked and botched information about this tragic and very suspicious case.”
“I hope with an increased budget the PAC will have the ability to adequately research and resolve issues,” Todd added, noting effective citizen oversight could improve relations between the police and LGBT community. “If these changes go into effect, the city will have demonstrated that it’s committed to civilian oversight. If they make these changes, it’s a good thing.”
PAC executive director Kelvyn Anderson said more staff and funding would be beneficial.
“With an invigorated PAC, we could get involved in a considerably higher number of complaints than we do now,” Anderson said. “We could do a better job of investigating. But more importantly, we could cast a bigger net. We try to look at as many complaints as we can. But we have to look at the entire police department. Citizen complaints are an important part of that, but not the only part.”
Jones’ bill has been referred to City Council’s Committee on Law and Government, chaired by Councilman Bill Greenlee.
Greenlee said he’s keeping an open mind about the bill, and will schedule a public hearing when requested to do so by Jones. He said a commitment of increased funding for the PAC should receive careful consideration.
“The cost is something that should at least be part of the discussion and the consideration,” Greenlee told PGN. “If it’s the right thing to do, then it’s not cost-prohibitive. But let’s see if it is the right thing to do. And that will be part of the discussion.”
The next PAC meeting will be held 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at 990 Spring Garden St., seventh floor. The public is invited to attend.