Feds Postpone Release of Philly Police Report

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. Photo Credit: AP | Matt Rourke

The U.S. Department of Justice was planning to release a long-awaited review Friday of the Philadelphia Police Department’s use of force. Officials did not explain the delay, but it came while the police department was reeling from the death of Officer Robert Wilson in a North Philly shooting on Thursday.

Ramsey asked for the examination following a spike in shootings by police.

Ramsey told us Thursday that the report would make several suggestions: “One of the recommendations is going to be that we continue to equip our people with tasers, a less-than-lethal technology.”

Here are more details from the justice department’s press release earlier this week:

The COPS office first announced the beginning of the Collaborative Reform Review in 2013. The scope of the work announced today will include an assessment of policies, training, and operations as they relate to use of force, taking into account national standards, best practices, current and emerging research, and community expectations.

The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services developed the Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance in 2011 as an independent and objective way to transform a law enforcement agency through an analysis of policies, practices, training, tactics and accountability methods around key issues facing law enforcement today.

A new date for the report’s release has not yet been announced.