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 watching: CPOC will track the program to ensure "repeat offenders" aren't consistently being allowed to sidestep progressive discipline, Zajac said.

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Philly pizzeria owner Mason Lesser loves three things: making dough, surfing and going to the gym.

The big picture: The 25-year-old former pro surfer is making a name for himself in Philly's ultra-competitive food scene, cranking out New York-style pizzas every 10 minutes at his Fishtown shop, Marina's Pizza, which opened late last year.

• Helped by a six-person crew, Lesser works between 10 and 14 hours a day, seven days a week. And he has a message for people who warn him about his relentless pace that's as saucy as his homemade pies.

What they're saying: "People keep telling me that I'm going to burn out," he tells Axios. "Excuse my language, but it's a [expletive] mindset."

Flashback: Lesser started flipping pizzas in his grandfather Angelo Lancellotti's shops in the Philly area when he was 14 and never really stopped.

• He later spent several years as a pro surfer, competing in places like Tahiti, Indonesia and Central America.
• His grandfather — who ran about a dozen pizza shops across the tri-state region — actually counseled him against entering the family business, saying it was too all-consuming.

If you go

💸 The School District of Philadelphia is expected to slash $225 million from next year's budget as part of a spending plan to eliminate a $300 million deficit.

• The plan avoids layoffs but would reassign more than 300 school employees to vacant positions and impose a hiring freeze in the district's central offices. (Philly Voice)

🏈 Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert will be back with the Birds this upcoming season after inking a one-year contract for $7 million. (ESPN)

🏀 Philly has three teams in this year's NCAA tournaments. On the men's side, No. 8 Villanova will play No. 9 Utah State Friday at 4:10pm, while No. 14 Penn faces No. 3 Illinois Thursday at 9:25pm.

• On the women's side, No. 10 Villanova will take on No. 7 Texas Tech on Friday, time TBA.

Homicides are at record lows in Philadelphia, but that hasn't completely shifted how residents view their safety.

The big picture: There's a gender divide: Just 43% of Philly men say they feel safe compared to 37% of women, per new Gensler survey data.

How it works: That's based on results from Gensler's survey of about 13,500 residents across 27 major U.S. cities conducted between July and November 2024.

Zoom out: In New York City, for example, 60% of men say they feel "safe" or "very safe," compared to just 45% of women.

• Boston has almost no gender gap around safety, and good perceptions overall with 80% of men 77% of women there saying they feel safe.

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Pope Leo XIV is being honored with the National Constitution Center's Liberty Medal, joining a hallowed list of past recipients that includes the Dalai Lama and the cast of the hit Broadway show "Hamilton."

Why it matters: It's a fitting honor — timed to coincide with the eve of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding — for America's first pontiff, a Villanova graduate.

Driving the news: Leo will deliver his acceptance remarks from the Vatican on July 3, with the speech livestreamed outside Independence Hall, the center tells Axios.

What they're saying: Leo's engagement with religious leaders across all faiths has been admirable, and he's championed "principles that closely align with constitutional protections guaranteed by the First Amendment," National Constitution Center interim President and CEO Vince Stango said in a statement.

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