Philly cops can now get training in lieu of discipline — with oversight
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Department of Justice
Philadelphia police officers who commit minor misconduct now have a new alternative to formal discipline: a training-focused diversion program.
Why it matters: Police say the program will help chip away at a backlog of disciplinary cases, which had exceeded 600 in 2023 and can take years to clear.
- But the city's independent police watchdog says it will be watching closely to ensure the same officers aren't being funneled through the system to avoid harsher punishment.
The big picture: Police discipline has long been a sore spot in Philadelphia, costing taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements over the years.
- The police department has been criticized for being lenient on officers who violate department policies, too often allowing them to undergo training or counseling, even in cases when they engaged in serious misconduct.
Catch up quick: The diversion program launched in the fall as part of broader reforms to the Philadelphia Police Department's disciplinary system, set in motion after George Floyd's murder and negotiated in the latest police contract.
Driving the news: The police department has held 18 four-hour training sessions so far, with more than 100 officers — including eight supervisors — completing the program, police spokesperson Sgt. Eric Gripp tells Axios.
- Another 47 officers are scheduled to participate in future sessions, which must be completed within three months of those police officers agreeing to enter the diversion program.
Zoom in: Police officers who commit serious misconduct — such as brutality or unconstitutional stops — are not eligible for the program. They cannot have committed the same offense they're being diverted for within the past six months and can only enter the diversion program once a year.
- About 20 departmental violations qualify for diversion, including failing to turn on body-worn cameras, using offensive language during encounters and on-duty quarreling or fighting as long as it doesn't turn physical.
Context: Internal affairs supervisors have the final say on whether an officer can enter the program or their case moves forward through the normal disciplinary process after they evaluate the "totality of the circumstances," Janine Zajac, auditing director at the Citizens Police Oversight Commission, said during a briefing at last week's meeting.
Threat level: That policy could open the door for some police officers — including those who intentionally turn off body cameras during traffic stops or other encounters — to enter the program, though CPOC would likely object to those cases being diverted.
What they're saying: CPOC sat in on one of the training sessions earlier this year, and said officers found them helpful.
- Police supervisors often incorporated real-life scenarios and body cam footage into their teaching lessons, CPOC research analyst Mia McLendon said at the meeting.
"No one likes to sit through training," she said. "We all have that mindset where it's like, 'OK, I want to get to the end of this.' But it was nice to hear that they were actually engaged throughout."
The bottom line: CPOC will continue tracking the program to ensure "repeat offenders" aren't consistently being allowed to sidestep progressive discipline, Zajac said.
- "You really don't know how it's going to go. We want to make sure that this training is really effective."