Why don't12 you file your report, okay? Mr. Parker,13 file your report.14
No.17 Thank you.18 Susan Gess.19 (Someone yelling from20 audience.)21
And25 360 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 Michael Jones.2 Don't forget to pull the mike3 up close so we can hear you, and identify4 yourself for the record.5
Ms. Gess,7 you want to proceed? Ms. Gess, we asked8 you to sign to be a witness because you9 were saying things to us from behind.10
Okay. The gentleman15 that just left, I wish it could be like16 that, that we didn't need a police force,17 a fire department to work, but that's the18 next life, right? 19 Unfortunately, we do. 1 the Boulevard, Nazareth, that took care2 of many people of all colors, all faiths3 and from other countries. What that lady4 Catherine said is so true, that people5 have come from other countries because of6 Senator Arlen Specter and Jim Kenney and7 our national government, our senators,8 who did nothing to stop it, and even our9 local government. They've taken our SSI,10 our Social Security. They have free11 health insurance while millions of12 Americans don't. It's gone on too long,13 and there is a criminal element. 19 I think planes are coming in every day20 from Northeast Airport. I live in the21 8th Police District. And it can't be22 checked who is coming in. 1 recent event where there was a gang of2 people, about 10 or 20, from Russia that3 were caught. They've been here since4 prior to 9/11, and they may have been5 involved with that. And they were6 espionage agents for the KGB. They were7 caught. It didn't make the Philadelphia8 papers much, but it did make the New York9 papers. And they were just sent back,10 just like after September 11th, people11 were sent back to Saudi Arabia or12 wherever they come from with terrorists13 that supposedly plotted to bring down the14 United States. 18 I'm unhappy with a lot of19 things our government has done, but I20 certainly think that people like Mary21 Mason should have been thrown off the22 radio when she made a remark that only23 white people were killed in the World24 Trade Centers. 8 I also want to say this: That9 everything that's said by people isn't10 true. We need to have internal11 investigations. I don't know about the12 internal investigation in the police13 force. There is a group that's been --14 anyone that has gone to college or even15 has a good high school teacher that tells16 you there are urban people that are put17 in place by our local government, and18 what they do is urban revitalize, and19 people come from other places with money20 and affluence, and everyone that's white21 is not rich and everyone that's black is22 not rich. 1 Republican National Party, Mike Steele,2 and the head of Coca-Cola. 6 It's not a matter of color. And, you7 know, there is things that go wrong in8 the Police Department. 13 And I didn't care if I got stabbed or14 shot over it. It was an anti-Catholic15 remark in a mainly Catholic city,16 predominantly. 1 no, that wasn't against the law. 5
Thank6 you, Ms. Gess. Thank you for your7 testimony.8
My name is Michael21 Jones. First of all, thank you very much22 for the opportunity.23
You're24 welcome.25 366 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1
But, see, this is2 my beat, these hearings and whatnot. 6 Okay. In '76 I was falsely7 arrested and accused of strong-armed8 robbery and whatnot. 9 The police did this on their own. So I10 got three years probation, and shortly11 thereafter, I was beaten by the police12 and whatnot. I was beaten. Me and the13 police got into a fight and I was beaten,14 and when we went to the hospital, the15 police had refused to remove my16 handcuffs. In fact, the doctor put a17 thing in my transcript saying that they18 refused to remove the handcuffs, gave the19 names and the numbers of them and20 whatnot, you know. 1 30th and Market and I was charged with2 being at 33rd and Spring Garden and3 whatnot. They brought these charges4 against me in spite of the fact that I5 definitely wasn't there and whatnot. 7 I have as a result of being8 under the influence of the MOVE9 organization came to represent myself in10 cases. 12 In City Hall in 1981, which was like a13 month prior to when Mumia was taken14 down -- understand that a part of the15 thing with Mumia being taken down was to16 eliminate the support and the outcry from17 the public that Mumia was bringing,18 because Mumia wouldn't shut up. And I19 was -- he and I was one of the only few20 supporters that MOVE organization had. administration of justice. After they brought me down in5 four cases, I wrote a motion for6 dismissal, which Judge Ricardo Jackson7 granted. I was released, and then8 shortly thereafter, they reopened my case9 without bringing me forward. I10 represented myself, and within the whole11 case, you have a thing called rule to12 show cause, where I was supposed to show13 cause why they weren't supposed to reopen14 my case. I never got to -- I never went15 to a courtroom and spoke on anything, but16 they did -- they opened my case in spite17 of that fact. And they had, you know --18 now, this whole thing with police abuse19 is only a conspiracy that's connected20 with the association with the District21 Attorney. It's a conspiracy that's22 associated with the judge and judicial23 system. 1 I wasn't present in these hearings. And2 there were a few that wouldn't3 participate in it, but nonetheless, they4 opened the case. And I'm saying that I5 was released on these charges after four6 months, and I felt relieved at being7 released, but the fact was that these8 police had beat me, had broken my ribs,9 took me up to the seventh floor,10 handcuffed me behind me back, with one11 cop on each side, took me up to the12 seventh floor, and every doorway that we13 came to, one went on one side, one went14 on the other and they rammed me. They15 got me up to the seventh floor. 17 Now, they dismissed the18 charges. 2 I'm saying that the 35th3 District and whatnot was nothing more4 than a scapegoat. It's not in any single5 district that the problem lies. 12 We're here -- ain't nothing13 changed from being slaves and all the14 things that are going on and -- look, I15 don't know. I'm done. 17
Abdul25 371 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 Jabar. Abdul Jabar, Aisha Holland or2 Alishia Holland. Please say if you're3 here, let me know.4 (No response.)5
Just say6 hey, or whatever.7 Vivienne Crawford. I know8 Vivienne is still here. Christine Ford.9 Hi. Come on up.10 (Witnesses approached witness11 table.)12
We know.16 We know that.17 And Joe Thompson. Joe18 Thompson.19 Now, is there anybody else in20 the room that wants to testify? We need21 to know that like now.22 (No response.)23
All24 right. Good. So these are the last --25 372 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 that's it.2 (Someone yelling from3 audience.)4
Well,5 Sweit Adeen, I've called his name twice.6 Is he back yet?7 (Someone yelling from8 audience.)9
Well,10 hopefully he'll get back here before we11 end this.12 Abdul wasn't here, correct? So13 we're going to go to Aisha Holland, is14 she here?15 (No response.)16
Yes.20 Just to repeat, particularly for those21 that may not have heard, it's three22 minutes max, and we're not going to23 discuss any case that's presently under24 investigation. You can talk about it,25 373 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 but we're not going to like -- okay.2 Thank you. Pull the mike up, identify3 yourself and proceed with your testimony.4
Yes. 7 Mr. Brinkley is displaying some8 photographs of a client of mine. 10 This is a client that I represented. He11 was arrested in November 2008. The12 interesting thing about this is that --13 his case is now over and he is on house14 arrest, but the problem is, he never --15 there was never a suggestion that16 indeed -- he was arrested for carrying a17 firearm. The firearm was left in his18 car. His wife came to get his car and he19 had the firearm on him. However, be that20 as it may, we never tried to back away21 from the testimony in terms of the fact22 that he did have the gun, which was23 licensed to someone else and the person24 was on his way to get it. 1 Mr. Thompson was beaten by five police2 officers. They said that a dog attacked3 him. There was no dog in the area. 6 Mr. Thompson required plastic7 surgery on his face, and during the time8 that he was being beaten by the police,9 highway patrol officers, who I will10 identify, he was -- they were beating him11 and they were saying, Fuck Barack, he12 can't help you now. 14 I submit to you that we are15 suffering in the African American16 community a backlash because there are17 many people who are upset about the fact18 that they can't imagine waking up in a19 country with an African American20 President. 1 place of business with a gun in his2 pocket. However, the police had no3 reason to be in the neighborhood. There4 was no call. I asked on5 cross-examination at the preliminary6 hearing. There was nothing going on in7 that neighborhood, save the fact that8 five highway patrol officers lighted on9 this corner. No call, no problem. 13 If you stop -- I submit, if you14 stop anyone walking down the street15 minding his own business, if you stop16 these people, out of ten people you're17 going to find people with problems. 21 Now, the other thing, we had22 hearings -- NAN had hearings in June of23 2009. 1 they have been attacked by the police,2 just the police -- they just ride through3 the neighborhoods and attack people4 randomly. We have 27 cases. We took5 those cases to Washington, DC and left6 them at the Office of the Attorney7 General, because I submit that we hear8 all of these things about police9 officers, no one seems to be able to do10 anything, and my question is, since11 there's precedent, perhaps we need to12 have a master appointed for the Police13 Department. 17 I also have records here18 because, of course, I was approached by19 the District Attorney. They didn't want20 to give up any information about the21 prior arrest of the police officers that22 beat this man. However, there was a back23 door to get those records, and I'm here24 to let everybody know. records on police officers by going to2 Internal Affairs. So I found out that the police5 officers who beat this man up, several of6 them had long histories of abuse against7 the community. One police officer had8 slammed a woman's hand in a door and took9 her finger off. This woman was a Latino10 woman, who was afraid to come to object11 to this. I have the internal files on12 five police officers, that there is no13 question these men do not have a right to14 have a badge and a gun. They are15 terrorizing our community, and as a16 result of highway patrol, when they used17 to go up and down the expressways, I18 guess it was an easy job. 2 They talk about boot cops. These are3 cowboy cops. 6 So we are asking that the7 federal government come in here and take8 over the Police Department. 16
Hi. My name is20 Christine Ford and I'm here on behalf of21 Ernest Ford. I'm his wife. 1 that my husband was being beat up by the2 police at 51st and Market. 8 At that time, I got down to9 51st and Market -- well, at that time, I10 got to 51st and Pine -- 55th and Pine at11 the police station, and they explained to12 me that my husband was arrested. He13 didn't have any clothes on. 15 At that time, I spoke to a16 Civil Affairs officer. He met me as I17 was coming into the police district. He18 said to me, Hold on, Ms. Ford. 20 I said, What's going on? 22 He said, Look, we have your23 husband. They have your husband down in24 the cell. 7 He said he was -- he said that8 he was blocking traffic. We had to stop9 him from -- they had to stop him from10 blocking traffic, which was a normal11 protest. Any other protest, they block12 traffic. Nothing, you know, seemed to13 happen. 18 He said, I do not know. I19 don't have all the details as of yet,20 Ms. 22 At that time, I went to his23 hearing. He had a preliminary hearing at24 55th and Pine. They didn't know who I was. I didn't3 know who they were. So I came and I sat down. They6 were sitting in back of me. I hear them7 talking. One black police officer -- his8 name was Officer Sanders -- said to the9 other officer, Where's the young man we10 supposed to have beat up? 19 So the black officer said, Well, look at20 him. Look at him. He act like we really21 did something. All we did was whip his22 ass. We didn't kill him. 2 When we get to court, federal3 court, with the whole nine yards, they4 lied. 6 I mean, my only concern with7 this is that there is so much corruption8 when it comes to the judicial system when9 it comes to black people. I sat there10 and I cried. 12 Nothing was done. 13 They looked at me, they looked at him,14 and they said, Case dismissed. 18 My husband went and had19 probation for a year. 21 Never been in trouble in his life. Ran22 for State Representative here in this23 country, ran for Mayor. 1 mean from Mayor Rendell, Governor2 Rendell. 3 He had all these things. You4 know what I'm saying? Never been in5 trouble. My concern with that was, what6 was the point of these officers coming on7 with the protest and beating him up for8 no reason? You know what I'm saying? He9 didn't have no weapon. He didn't have no10 gun. He didn't have no knives. All he11 had was a poster that states "Police12 Brutality," state that we need to stop13 police brutality. They didn't like it,14 so they came out and they did what they15 had to do by beating him up. They kept16 throwing him back and forth into the van17 until they knocked him out. He wanted to18 go to the hospital. 1 know. So all these things come to play2 when the police seems to -- they find it3 in their heart because they have a gun,4 they have a badge, they could do exactly5 what they want, we can do nothing about6 it, because we're citizens. We can't say7 anything to them or do anything. They8 feel like they could do exactly what they9 want, and if you get out of pocket10 several times -- I am the committee11 person in Kensington, you know, the whole12 area of Kensington. I go back and forth13 talking to different families about the14 incidents that happened with police15 officers with their children. 17 Ms. 19 You know what I'm saying? 1 My husband right now -- I2 suffer. My husband suffers from dreams3 at night. I hear him screaming. I hear4 him jumping out of bed. I hear him5 fighting, kicking and just screaming,6 like, Stop, stop, stop, don't hurt me,7 don't hurt me. I hear these things every8 night. 13 They don't know what they do to us. But14 let that be one of their family members,15 then it's another story. 19
Yes. My name is23 Joe Thompson. I'm a resident of West24 Philadelphia, the 19th District. 1 3rd, 2010, I was assaulted by the2 Philadelphia Police Department. Minding3 my business walking down the driveway,4 the police was in pursuit of another5 individual, which they happened to have6 his ID in their hand, so they met me at7 the individual's home. As I was walking8 down the driveway behind his house --9 actually, I share the driveway with the10 Councilman Curtis Jones. And I spoke to11 two of the officers, Darnell Jesse from12 the 19th and another young man. They13 spoke to me. 14 As I proceeded to walk by,15 another officer said, Stop him. They16 stopped me. They said, Put your hands on17 the car. 18 I said, Yes, I do. They never19 went in my pocket to check my ID, which20 they had the suspect's ID in their hand,21 who is 5'5". 4 They proceeded to beat me for5 about five minutes. It was nine6 officers, nine of them. 12 I'm telling you, you have the13 wrong one. 14 After it was all said and done,15 they turned around and said, Oh, no,16 that's not him. 18 So at that present time, they19 let me go and they walked away. They20 didn't press no charges. They didn't21 arrest me. They didn't say, I apologize,22 do you need medical assistance? My neighbors are outside. My2 children are outside. I'm a pillar in my community. I'm a4 mentor in my community. 9 I'm not here to bash the Police10 Department. All police officers are not11 bad people. I'm not going to sit here12 and say, Oh, they cops, this -- no. It's13 a few of them that are bad seeds that14 make it look bad for everybody else,15 because the majority of people in the16 19th know me. You understand? So for17 that to happen -- I feel as though those18 men and the young lady that was involved,19 they need to be addressed. 1 suspect got away. So you take your2 frustrations out on me? On me? 5 They know -- three of them knew6 me personally, and the three that knew me7 even consisted -- they even helped stomp8 me, knowing I wasn't the individual. But9 because that's their core, their core,10 they couldn't stand back and say, I'm not11 going to jump in this one because, you12 know, I know him. No. They had to whoop13 my ass too. 14 I mean, we are in this15 building, but this is how they treated16 me. And I'm not afraid of the police,17 but sometimes I don't know how they going18 to react. I thought they were going to19 kill me if I made an attempt to defend20 myself. They would have shot me or they21 would have smacked me in my head with22 that stick and I don't know how I would23 have ended up. 1 To this day, I would like to2 turn around and say to the Police3 Department, all police officers are not4 bad people and you guys do your job and5 it's a very dangerous job and I respect6 what you do. I just think that some of7 the people that work for you guys, you8 need to check their background a little9 bit more thoroughly before you hire them,10 because they're all not fit to be11 officers. 13
I'd just like to23 add something that the gentleman just24 said. All police officers are not bad.25 391 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 I have relatives that are police2 officers, but here's the problem: The3 good police officers know who these bad4 seeds are. That's the problem. They5 refuse to speak out. They know who they6 are.7
People8 have been identifying that as an issue9 throughout the day, the code of silence.10
Thank13 you.14 I really want to thank everyone15 that has come in and pretty much spent16 their day in the Chambers.17 This is the last witness. You18 were not in the room when I said is there19 anybody else to testify. Come up to the20 table, identify yourself, and this is it.21 Pull your mike up so we can hear you.22 Okay? Three minutes.23
1 allowing me to speak. My name is Mikel2 Shabazz. 7 I'm here today to talk about8 some of the things that I've observed in9 the community. 1 this mass human warehousing campaign2 where there's basically a war being waged3 against the black community that4 basically disenfranchises them as a5 result of them being charged as a felon6 so that they don't have the right to7 vote. 14 At the same time, they're15 depopulating the black community. 5 Now, I mentioned the fact that6 I served in Iraq. I was with the 3047 Civil Affairs Brigade. innocent people, you're growing these2 seeds of terrorism, because you get what3 you give. People are tired of this5 treatment as if we don't care. We can6 see many examples of this all around the7 world. As I said, fortunately to the8 extent that we can, the Imams are trying9 to tell everyone to go through this legal10 process, voice your concerns, file a11 complaint, but people don't want to hear12 that. 13 The abuse must stop. People14 need to listen to their leaders. If the15 Mayor -- I mean, we had commanding16 generals who didn't tolerate those kinds17 of actions, and those soldiers who were18 responsible for these mistreatments of19 the Iraqi people were punished and some20 of them were incarcerated. Many of them21 were demoted in rank. 1 jewelry and cars and all kinds of things2 from these people. And the same thing is3 happening. 12 So what I'm asking is, some13 people think that these hearings are a14 waste of time, that this is just a show,15 that you really don't intend to do16 anything, that this is just an17 opportunity for people to voice their18 concerns and nothing is going to happen19 afterwards. Well, we in the faith20 community, we know that this universe is21 operated by divine law. There is a law22 of cause and effect. What goes around23 comes around. 10 There's much more I can say. I11 thank you for allowing me to speak these12 few words. I hope that they were clear13 even though I was pressed for time and I14 didn't have a chance to really --15
I want to16 thank you for coming in. What is your17 daughter's name again?18
Yes. She's22 a mother of five, just coming over for23 the weekend for Thanksgiving, coming from24 her mother-in-law's house over to our25 398 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 house. Her mother-in-law lives in2 Southwest Philadelphia. She's coming up3 to East Oak Lane and stopped off to pick4 up her bag, suitcase, for some extra5 clothes for the children to wear over the6 weekend and saw this person banging on7 her car, and she basically said, Get away8 from my car. Who are you? You know, my9 children in there. This is late at10 night.11
She lives13 in North Philly and so forth.14 But anyway, it was a really15 unnecessary situation, and she was tased,16 I don't know, six or seven or eight17 times, thrown down to the ground, face18 down with a foot placed on her head,19 mouth pushed in the dirt. She was20 bleeding. All of this happened in front21 of her oldest daughter. Fortunately, the22 other children were asleep.23 COUNCILWOMAN MILLER:24 Mr. Shabazz, I have another question.25 399 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 Your other daughter told us about all2 that took place.3
Yes. I4 didn't want to come in here to talk about5 that.6
I just7 want to ask one other. Did it happen two8 weeks ago or did it happen January?9
Okay.12 Because someone said that, but then13 someone else said January.14
No. This15 happened on November the 27th. But what16 I'm -- I mean, I'm not only concerned17 about my daughter, and obviously I'm18 concerned about her, but I'm concerned19 more about the climate that's --20
We21 understand. That's what we're concerned22 about.23
That this24 is a powder keg that's going to explode,25 400 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 and it doesn't have to happen.2
The5 ramifications of the situation I know6 could be very significant in a wide7 variety of ways. We have a number of8 issues.9 You talk about people filing a10 complaint. Most of the people don't even11 graduate from high school. They can't12 even read or write. And this frustration13 is building, not to mention the fact that14 you're compounding the situation with the15 lack of jobs, the lack of a number of16 things, educational opportunities. These17 are natural breeding grounds for people18 to take out their frustrations in ways19 that are not productive nor constructive.20
And already23 there is a concern on many people's part24 about what some people say the jailhouse25 401 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 Islam and the influence of the terrorists2 in terms of the Muslims that are here.3 So what I'm saying is that we4 need to take this thing very seriously,5 because we don't know the ramifications6 associated with it. Now, some people7 think that they can put a handle on these8 things, but some people are of the9 mindset -- and you see this evidenced in10 other parts of the world -- that when11 they feel as though they don't have12 anything else to live for, then they're13 ready to die for it, and they don't care.14 Okay? And so I hope it doesn't get to15 that point. We're trying to contain it16 as much as we can, but we don't control17 anything. God is in control of18 everything.19 But, like I said before, you20 get what you give. What goes around21 comes around. To every action there is22 an equal and opposite reaction. These23 are divine law. You can't get around it.24 You can't ignore it, and if you do, it25 402 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 doesn't matter anyway. It's going to2 take effect.3
Thank you7 very much.8 Councilman Jones, and then9 we're going to recess to the call of the10 Chair.11
I just want12 to thank everyone who participated today.13 Everybody has different motivations in14 life. I'm not qualified to judge another15 human being's motivations or intentions,16 or intentions, but I can tell you ours.17 Ours was to listen and to glean from it a18 very emotional situation, but things that19 we can use to make it better.20 And I'm going to end with this21 quote: When will justice come? When22 those who are not injured are just as23 indignant as those who are. That was a24 Greek philosopher somewhere a long time25 403 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 ago. It was a true then and it's true2 now.3 Thank you.4
I want to5 thank you. And, listen, I mean, people6 can think whatever they want to think7 about these hearings, but we have been8 sitting here since 10:00 this morning and9 it's now 20 minutes to 5:00, and we don't10 take this as a joke, I am sure.11 And I want to thank the Police12 Department and the other City agencies13 that have come out today, and you guys14 have also been here -- I think you got15 here a little bit before 10:00. You were16 here when I got here.17 So thank you all for coming,18 and we look forward to working together19 to figure out what are the next steps,20 what do we need to do.21 Thank you. This Committee is22 recessed to the call of the Chair. Thank23 you.24 (Committee on Public Safety25 404 12/14/10 - PUBLIC SAFETY - BILL 100722, ETC.1 concluded at 4:45 p.m.)2 - - -3 405 CERTIFICATE2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the3 proceedings, evidence and objections are4 contained fully and accurately in the5 stenographic notes taken by me upon the6 foregoing matter on December 14, 2010, and7 that this is a true and correct transcript of8 same.9 --------------------14 MICHELE L. MURPHY15 RPR-Notary Public16 (The foregoing certification of this20 transcript does not apply to any reproduction21 of the same by any means, unless under the22 direct control and/or supervision of the23 certifying reporter.)24