PoliceLink

Four Philadelphia police officers are being fired  and three others are being suspended for conduct unbecoming an officer, for allegedly hitting or kicking three suspects arrested two weeks ago following a triple shooting.

The incident was videotaped by a TV news helicopter and that helped lead to the swift and firm action by the police brass.

    

Police commissioner Charles Ramsey (right) says the seven fired or suspended officers -- and a sergeant who is being demoted to officer for failing to take action to stop the other officers' conduct  -- failed to act within department policy and procedures:

"We have standards in this department. We have policy and procedures that have to be followed, and there can be no exceptions to that. We have to be better than some of what we showed on the fifth of May. Many of the officers acted appropriately. But many did not. And those who did nto have to suffer the consequences for those actions." 

 

Ramsey says a total of 19 officers -- 18 city police and one SEPTA transit officer -- were involved in the apprehension of the three shooting suspects on May 5th . 

     

Two of the officers are relatively new to the force and can be terminated immediately. Two others are being suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss.

   

Ramsey says the disciplinary decisions were made after a detailed review of the enhanced videotape



Watch the full helicopter video  



John McNesby, president of the Philadelphia local of the Fraternal Order of Police, says the union will challenge the disciplinary moves as a rush to judgment, a lack of due process, and unwarranted.  

 

McNesby says the officers were responding to a street-corner shooting in the days following a police sergeant's murder and in an environment when one out of every three city cops is assaulted in any given year, yet their actions are scrutinized.  

 

He says that in the equally controversial videotaped arrest of Thomas Jones some years ago, the eventual result was not one hour of discipline against any office involved.



The eight police officers being disciplined are identified by the Philadelphia Police Department as Ofcr. Vincent Strain of the 35th District (dismissal), Ofcr. Patrick Gallagher of the 35th District (dismissal), Ofcr. Patrick Whalen of the 35th District (dismissal), Ofcr. Robert Donnelly of the 35th District (dismissal), Ofcr. Sean Bascom of the Narcotics Strike Force (five-day suspension), Ofcr. Demetrios Pittaoulis of the 35th District (10-day suspension), Ofcr. Jonathon Czapor of the 25th District (15-day suspension), and Sgt. Joseph Schiavone of the 35th District (demoted).

The mother of one of the three suspects arrested on May 5th, who was protesting outside police headquarters on Monday (right), says she is not satisfied with the commissioner's actions.  She says more officers should be fired, and she wants criminal charges brought against them.

 

The district attorney is investigating. 

Maybe the three scumbag suspects should not have been shooting at someone!  Sounds like a rush to judgement on the part of Commissioner Ramsey.

SLICK418 says ...

sooooooo how does the mother feel about her son doing a drive by shooting...oh yea shes not protesting about that....that doesnt matter that her son shot somebody..... 

The Devil made him do it!!!!

jims4 says ...

The rush to judgement is the signs that the women pictured are holding. Let's fire the cops, that'll quiet 'em down. Of course the mother isn't satisfied. What a bunch of BS. If they hadn't started beating the shit out them, they may have been shot. The brass needs to get out in the street once in awhile and see the real world. Sad part is, when he was on the street, he probably did the same thing. Hopefully, the union can stop this nonsense and  these officers can keep their jobs.

Amen Brother! Thank God I'm retired! Upholding the law while handcuffed and not supported by the brass must be a bitch!

jims4 says ...

I like the sign "we just can't take anymore". There should be a cop standing next to her holding the same sign! These people really make me laugh. Kind of hypocritical if you ask me. What can't she take any more of? Her kids shooting at one another or the police doing their job?

I remember when I was a kid the Superman comics had a series on "Bizzaro Land" where everything was backwards. I guess the writer was a visionary!!!!

officer1983 says ...

I would have been dismissed also. Nuff said!

AMEN!!!!

That's why I was never a cop. I would have lasted about 2 days. I could not have the patience you guys and gals have. It fits me perfectly supporting the police.

jims4 says ...

RetiredCop says ...

jims4 says ...

I like the sign "we just can't take anymore". There should be a cop standing next to her holding the same sign! These people really make me laugh. Kind of hypocritical if you ask me. What can't she take any more of? Her kids shooting at one another or the police doing their job?

I remember when I was a kid the Superman comics had a series on "Bizzaro Land" where everything was backwards. I guess the writer was a visionary!!!!

I remember it well!

Damned it you do, damned if you don't! If they shot them they would have been in trouble too! Maybe if the parents bitch-slapped them growing up, this would have never happened! So the cops did what the parents should have and now they have to pay for it. This criminal justice system is broken and I am soooooooo glad I am not a part of it any longer. It breaks my heart to see what our brothers/sisters are up against. It's just shitting against the tide these days! I pray that all of you make it to retirement safely and I want to let you know that I care about what you do!