Community activists are urging city officials to ensure the city’s Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) has the ability to independently investigate Philadelphia police officers for possible misconduct.
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration is entering into negotiations with the police union regarding a new employment contract. The union, known as the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, doesn’t want language in the contract allowing CPOC to conduct independent investigations of police officers.
On Nov. 21, Philadelphia City Council held a three-hour hearing regarding the upcoming contract talks. Numerous activists testified in favor of CPOC having the power to conduct independent investigations — citing the unacceptability of police investigating themselves.
The activists said CPOC’s effectiveness would be greatly diminished if it must rely on the police department’s Internal Affairs Bureau to conduct investigations — with CPOC merely on the sideline, providing limited input.
Contract talks between the city and police union will take place over the next several months. If language allowing for independent investigations by CPOC isn’t included in the new contract, it will be three more years before the city has another opportunity to include such language in a future contract.
Nizah Morris case remains under review
CPOC is currently reviewing the unsolved homicide of Nizah Morris. Morris, 47, was a trans woman who was found by passers-by with a fatal head wound at 16th and Walnut streets, shortly after receiving a courtesy ride from Philadelphia police.
The incident occurred during the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 22, 2002. Morris had been drinking at the old Key West Bar and police transported her a few blocks to the vicinity of 16th and Walnut streets.
PGN filed a complaint with CPOC in November 2023, alleging that three officers involved in the Morris incident falsified paperwork regarding the courtesy ride and subsequent assault of Morris.
Additionally, one of the officers — Kenneth Novak — wrote an unclear word in his patrol log regarding Morris that police officials have declined to clarify.
Jodie Eichel, a spokesperson for CPOC, told PGN she didn’t know whether CPOC will be able to clarify the word Novak wrote.
“At this time, we’re not able to answer [that] question relating to [Novak’s] police patrol log due to our review not being completed yet,” Eichel wrote in an email.
PGN’s position is that CPOC’s review of the officers’ paperwork would be incomplete if it cannot identify the word written by Novak, whom some view as a suspect in Morris’ death.
Eichel said the contract talks won’t impact CPOC’s review of the Morris case.
“Nizah’s case would not be impacted by the upcoming contract talks with the city and the police,” Eichel wrote in an email. “As we stated before, we agreed to do a ‘review’ of the case. Have no fear it is still ongoing. This type of work can take some time. Thank you for your patience.”
In a follow-up email, Eichel explained the difference between a CPOC review and a CPOC investigation.
“While an investigation seeks to establish a factual basis for potential disciplinary action within the police system, typically through a more detailed, systemic inquiry into why or how an incident occurred, a review serves a different purpose,” Eichel wrote. “A review is a general assessment aimed at summarizing or providing feedback on actions already taken or policies already implemented.”
Community activist Asa Khalif testified at the Nov. 21 City Council hearing and urged CPOC to do a full investigation of the Morris case.
“In 2002, my dear friend Nizah Morris was murdered,” Khalif told councilmembers. “She was last seen alive [and conscious] in police custody. Her family, friends and advocates want CPOC to investigate without any roadblocks by the FOP.”
Khalif noted that in 2020, Philadelphia voters approved the creation of CPOC with the provision that it independently investigates police officers.
“We want independent investigations with full transparency,” Khalif continued. “There must be changes in the new contract that will not make it difficult for CPOC. Police can no longer be trusted to investigate themselves in secret.”
After the hearing, Khalif told PGN he would continue pushing for CPOC’s ability to conduct independent investigations.
“I’m going to continue to push,” Khalif vowed. “It’s been more than 20 years [since Morris’ death] and we will continue pushing.”
