The Future Of Stop And Frisk In Philadelphia Is In Question
By Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Following his win in the Democratic Mayoral Primary, Jim Kenney made it clear, as he did throughout the campaign, that he planned to end the "stop and frisk" policy of the Philadelphia Police Department.
"If you have a program that divides the community from the police and it doesn't result in anything positive going forward," Kenney told reporters, "It should be stopped."
Kenney says he plans to discuss "stop and frisk" with Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey who has implemented the policy here.
"I'm going to tell him that in the end, it doesn't make police officers safer, it doesn't make citizens safer," Kenney explained. "Because some 80 percent of the stops that are made do not result in a weapon being confiscated or an arrest."
Asked about Kenney's position on "stop and frisk", Police Commissioner Ramsey did not announce any plans to change the strategy, but did say he was willing to talk about it.
"There will be a lot of discussions that will take place with whoever the next mayor will be and I will sit down and discuss what their philosophy is," he told CBS 3.
Finally, John McNesby, President of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police which endorsed Kenney, says the controversy over "stop and frisk" is simply not necessary.
"Everybody is making a big deal about 'stop and frisk'," McNesby commented. "You're allowed to stop and frisk somebody under a Supreme Court ruling. It's not anything new. It's nothing that's been reinvented."
Meanwhile, Kenney's GOP rival in the November election, Melissa Murray Bailey says she also opposes "stop and frisk" so it appears the days of the policy are numbered.
