Content warning: This story includes descriptions of sexual abuse and assault, including sexual violence against women and minors.
Two women who were sexually abused as children by former Philadelphia police officer Patrick Heron are suing the Philadelphia Police Department, alleging it knew about Heron’s misconduct for more than a decade but failed to intervene.
The civil suit, filed Wednesday, claims the city’s “blatant, conscious, and reckless disregard for the safety of the public” allowed Heron to harm the two plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe and Jane Smith, as well as dozens of other women and girls.
Heron, who was charged by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office last year with over 200 sex crimes involving women and children, served as a Philadelphia police officer from 1995 to 2019 and frequently patrolled Kensington.
In October 2023, Heron accepted a plea deal and is now serving a 15- to 40-year sentence for crimes including unlawful contact with a minor, sexual abuse of children, and kidnapping. The plaintiffs, who were 9 and 11 years old when first abused, were among the charges Heron pleaded guilty to, according to the suit.
PPD declined to comment on the complaint.
Attorneys Joshua Van Naarden and Erin Sweeney of VSCP Law, who represent the plaintiffs, said in an email to Kensington Voice they are “committed to pursuing justice on behalf of victims who were sexually abused by former Philadelphia Police Officer Patrick Heron.”
Each of the plaintiffs are seeking a minimum of $50,000 in damages for physical and emotional damages, according to the suit.
The lawsuit names Heron, the Philadelphia Police Department, Heron’s direct supervisor Theodore Waddell, and five other supervisors, identified as “John Does” as defendants. The plaintiffs’ attorneys stated in the complaint that they do not yet know the identities of the additional supervisors.
Alleged negligence
The suit alleges that the city and police department were aware of Heron’s misconduct before he victimized the plaintiffs. It cites 17 sustained Internal Affairs and citizen complaints against Heron between 1997 and 2016.
These complaints included:
- Neglect of duty
- Conduct unbecoming an officer
- Associating with known criminals
- Associating with prostitutes
- Failure to cooperate in departmental investigation
- Making a false statement in a departmental investigation
Heron was detained in 2003 “under circumstances consistent with soliciting a prostitution” by officers assigned to a prostitution detail in Kensington. He allegedly provided false information to Internal Affairs during the investigation, according to the lawsuit.
In 2016, allegations were sustained against Heron for improper use of social media while on duty and two instances of sending harassing and threatening messages to a female citizen.
Two years later, Heron was accused of retail theft after attempting to steal a cell phone charger from a North Philadelphia CVS while in full uniform.
“When confronted by the CVS employee, defendant Heron admitted to attempting to steal the charger and asked the employee not to tell anyone about the incident,” the complaint states. “He also offered to buy her flowers or her favorite food.”
Following the theft, the lawsuit states Heron was placed on long-term sick leave and resigned about a year later, a week before a disciplinary hearing.
Heron received a pension until at least September 2023.
Philadelphia police officers, and all city employees, receive pensions until they are found guilty of, or plead guilty to, a crime connected to their public employment, according to city directives.
A pattern of abusing authority
In 2016, Heron was dispatched to drive Jane Smith, an 11-year-old girl, home from Temple University Hospital after she had run away, according to the lawsuit. He allegedly locked the police car and “placed an illicit substance in Jane Smith’s drink to render her unconscious,” before taking photos of her.
Similarly, though while off-duty, Heron “physically restrained” and “held captive” Jane Doe, a 9-year-old girl, in his bedroom, according to the lawsuit. He took photos and videos of her while she was unconscious. In 2022, when she was a teen, Heron attempted to solicit her, and eventually, he used his position as a former police officer to pressure her into not coming forward after she posted on Facebook about Heron assaulting her as a younger child:
“I’m only gonna tell you once, if I see you say one more word on social media, especially Facebook or TO ANYONE about your insane lies, I will be right up in the Special Victims Unit telling them,” read a message he sent to Doe. “Maybe I’ll have my buddies in the 7th pull you and [name redacted] over so y’all get locked up for y’all weed.”
Both of these victims’ stories were presented as part of the criminal case that led to Heron’s sentencing last year. Their allegations, and many others, were detailed in court during a September 2023 hearing when prosecutors from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office successfully consolidated all of his charges into a single case.
Prosecutors said Heron often filmed his victims on his personal cell phone, frequently while in his patrol car and in uniform. He reportedly coaxed women and girls into his vehicle, many of whom were either semi-conscious or unconscious, according to court documents. The videos showed Heron lifting victims’ shirts or pulling down their pants to film and photograph them.
According to prosecutors, many of the women included in the videos were unhoused, using drugs, or engaged in sex work. Heron also threatened to arrest women he sexually assaulted while on patrol, prosecutors said. Most of the victims they discovered in Heron’s footage remain unidentified, referred to as “Jane Does.”
“They are reluctant to come forward, they are well chosen vulnerable victims,” said lead prosecutor Lyandra Retacco at a press conference following the October 2023 sentencing.
Prosecutors estimated that Heron victimized at least 48 women and children, though they suspect there are additional victims who have not come forward.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Additional resources
For people with information about this case
Victims and witnesses who may have more information about this case are urged to contact the DA Office's Special Investigations Unit at 215–686–9608 or DAO_SIU@phila.gov. The Victim Services Unit can be reached directly at 215-686-8027 or DA.VictimServices@phila.gov.
If you have information about Heron you’d like to share with Kensington Voice, contact editors@kensingtonvoice.com or 215-385-3392 via call or text.
For victims of sexual violence
Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673 and the National Sexual Violence Resources Center .
For those who suspect child abuse
In Pennsylvania, the toll-free ChildLine hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-932-0313. Mandated reporters can file a report electronically.
Have any questions, comments, or concerns about this story? Send an email to editors@kensingtonvoice.com.
