The event, called “Transparency Now: The Philadelphia Mayoral Forum on Police and Criminal Justice Reform,” was held at the Catalyst for Change Church in the Powelton Village section of West Philly. And the forum was sponsored by two news organizations—Tech Book Online and The Declaration.
The Democratic candidates attending the forum included Nelson Diaz, former City Council member James Kenney, Doug Oliver, Milton Street and State Senator Anthony Williams. To her credit, Melissa Murray Bailey, the Republican candidate and an-admitted longshot, joined the Democratic field that evening. Missing was former district attorney Lynne Abraham, who earned a reputation as the “deadliest D.A.” in America, and for turning Philly into the blackest death row population in the country. Abraham attracted controversy recently for saying she did not prosecute bad cops during her tenure because there was no constituency for it back then.
Among the questioners were journalist Christopher Norris, and Tanya Brown-Dickerson–a uniquely qualified expert with firsthand knowledge of criminal justice and policing matters. Brown-Dickerson’s son, Brandon Tate-Brown, was fatally shot in the back of the head by police during a traffic stop in Frankford last December. Police claim Tate-Brown was reaching for a gun. Ms. Brown-Dickerson has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and two officers, also claiming police planted a gun as evidence to make it appear her son was reaching for a gun.
The officers involved in Tate-Brown’s death were “cleared” of wrongdoing and returned to duty, which is not surprising to those in the community who are familiar with police brutality cases.
The candidates were questioned on a variety of criminal justice, policing and public safety issues, including stop-and-frisk policies, arbitration for fired cops, police accountability and community relations, and whether they would support a Chicago-style reparations fund for victims of police brutality and corruption.
In addition, the mayoral hopefuls were asked to take a position on “Brandon’s Law”—proposed legislation named after Brandon Tate-Brown—which would require the release of all information require publicizing all information in officer-involved fatal shootings, including the names of officers involved. The legislation reads as follows:
Whereas, transparency is needed in order to rebuild and maintain the public’s trust in law enforcement; and whereas, , according to the Department of Justice’s Collaborative Reform Initiative: An Assessment of Deadly Force in the Philadelphia Police Department, police use of deadly force is one of the defining issues in our criminal justice system and is the most serious action a police officer can take; and, whereas, according to the aforementioned report, the Philadelphia Police Department needs of improve the quality and transparency of deadly force investigations from both a criminal and administrative standpoint, we the people of Philadelphia propose, and advocate for the passing of Brandon’s Law, legislation that would require the Philadelphia Police Department to publish and archive the names of every police officer who shoots and kills a citizen, along with the detailed accounts of each fatal officer-involved shooting, including the ruling from the firearms review board and the District Attorney.
In addition, the mayoral hopefuls were asked to take a position on “Brandon’s Law”—proposed legislation named after Brandon Tate-Brown—which would require the release of all information require publicizing all information in officer-involved fatal shootings, including the names of officers involved. The legislation reads as follows:
All candidates embraced Brandon’s Law in some form.
Throughout the forum, the candidates returned to events in Baltimore and made comparisons to Philadelphia. The cities, a little over 100 miles apart, share similar challenges including high unemployment, and large numbers of missing black men due to a high incarceration rate. “You have to prepare for Baltimore now today, while our streets are calm,” Doug Oliver said.
Milton Street said that his nephew, who lives in Baltimore, said the unrest occurred because the officers involved in the Freddie Gray shooting were not arrested. “This is what causes the riots. They want justice,” Street declared. Street offered that he would have bad police officers take out the trash, and would have arrested all of the police involved in the Gray death.
“What has happened in Baltimore, what has happened in Ferguson, and what is happening throughout this country, we are only a short part away from it happening in this city,” said Nelson Diaz.
“The issue of transparency would have allowed for Baltimore probably to withstand what had occurred,” said Senator Williams.
A profound statement came from Tanya Brown-Dickerson on the issue of police accountability versus violence in the community. “We have to learn to respect and love each other first. At the same time I am a school bus driver. And I took that job knowing that if that boy spits on me or hits me, I cannot touch him. If I do so there will be recompense,” she said.
“I must face what happens next, I must face being held accountable for reacting or responding to him. Oh, while I understand we need not hurt or kill each other, I am held to a higher standard as a bus driver. ,,, When (the police) took this job, they knew the sacrifices, protect their community, they knew what they were up against.”
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