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When Larry Krasner was elected as Philadelphia district attorney four years ago, he promised to bring “transformational change” to an office and to a criminal justice system that, he said, “has systematically picked on poor people, primarily black and brown people.”
“If you, like us, believe it’s time to end the death penalty,” the veteran civil rights lawyer told the crowd that packed into the city’s William Way LGBT Community Center. “If you believe it’s time to end mass incarceration. If you believe it’s time to stop making prisoners of poor people by using cash bail. If you are sick and tired of government stealing grandma’s house when she didn’t do an
Blood drive honors fallen heroes while meeting critical need
A donor gives blood at a May 13 drive organized by Michael the Archangel Ministry at the Fraternal Order of Police s Philadelphia Lodge #5. The outreach was scheduled to coincide with National Police Week, honoring fallen officers (one of whom is pictured on the video screen) while helping to redress a critical shortage in blood supplies. (Gina Christian)
By Gina Christian • Posted May 14, 2021
Dozens of Philadelphia police officers rolled up their sleeves to give critically needed blood this week, thanks to an outreach named for the patron saint of law enforcement.
On Wednesday, the Michael the Archangel Ministry organized an all-day drive at the Philadelphia Lodge #5 Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), with the American Red Cross collecting some 110 pints of blood for use at regional health care facilities.
Almost half of Philadelphia’s firefighters and police have skipped the COVID-19 vaccines, unions say
Updated May 12, 2021;
Posted May 12, 2021
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces gather before a FEMA community vaccination center opens on March 2, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images/TNS)TNS
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PHILADELPHIA Nearly half of Philadelphia’s fire and police workers are unvaccinated despite being eligible to receive the shot for months, according to unions representing both groups.
Philadelphia Firefighters Local 22, which represents about 2,800 firefighters and EMTs, reported 51% of its members have been vaccinated. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Five reported 3,562 members have been vaccinated, more than half the force. The union did not offer any demographic breakdowns of that number and was not able to distinguish between officers and civilian employees.
Missouri lawmakers repeal KC police residency, empower prosecutors in innocence cases Jonathan Shorman, Jeanne Kuang, Bryan Lowry, and Steve Vockrodt, The Kansas City Star
May 13 JEFFERSON CITY Missouri lawmakers on Thursday struck down a rule that Kansas City police officers live in the city, approving a criminal justice overhaul that also bans officers from using chokeholds.
The General Assembly s passage of the measure represents a victory for Kansas City police officers who have unsuccessfully pushed to lift the residency requirement in the past, even as the legislature removed similar rules for St. Louis.
But it marks a blow for Mayor Quinton Lucas and other civic leaders who had urged lawmakers to keep the rule in place. They argued requiring the department s more than 1,300 officers to live in the city they patrol fosters better relationships with residents.