Policing, courts and jails in Kensington, Philadelphia. Coverage of law enforcement, reentry programs, the justice system and how it affects the neighborhood.
About 40 people disrupted a criminal legal system panel at the Parkway Central Free Library on Tuesday night to protest the recent deaths of Amanda Cahill and Michael McKinnis.
Accountability
Women incarcerated near Cahill at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center said “the banging was so loud that people couldn't sleep."
Kids in Kensington
Engaging with people who deal drugs is key to breaking up Kensington’s open-air drug market, but city leaders have overlooked this population while creating new law enforcement strategies for the neighborhood, says Ride Free.
Accountability
Cahill, a mother of two sons, was one of 34 people arrested for narcotics violations and outstanding warrants in a coordinated police sweep under Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Kensington initiative.
Accountability
Police arrested 34 people for “narcotics violations,” including drug paraphernalia and possession, as well as outstanding warrants
Accountability
Philly police ordered overdose vigil volunteers to move their tables from their setup near McPherson Square Library down to the street.
Accountability
The police oversight agency, known as CPOC, was created by a city ordinance in 2021 to improve transparency and accountability in policing.
Accountability
The cleanup was organized by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) “in conjunction with staff from the City of Philadelphia,” according to a PennDOT spokesperson.
Community Life
The event was hosted by District 7 Councilmember Quetcy Lozada's office.
Accountability
The rally took place a few days after the first anniversary of Irizarry’s death near the intersection of Willard and Lee streets, where a former Philadelphia police officer shot him.
Accountability
During an exclusive interview on WHYY’s live talk show Studio 2, Mayor Cherelle Parker discussed policing Kensington’s open-air drug market and said the May 8 encampment sweep didn’t go exactly as planned.
Housing & Shelter
Streets were closed from Kensington Avenue to Emerald Street and Orleans to Somerset streets.
Government & Policy
Police leaders and prosecutors provided additional details about the incident during a news conference Monday at PPD headquarters.
Guides & Resources
A very long chart for a very long process.
Accountability
Prison staff say the staffing shortage makes it impossible to deliver timely, high-quality care for the approximately 4,700 people incarcerated in Philadelphia’s jails daily – a majority of whom present with substance use disorder.
Los nuevos oficiales trabajarán en tres turnos y cubrirán el vecindario las 24 horas del día. La mayoría de los oficiales patrullarán el vecindario a pie, y algunos estarán en bicicletas.
Accountability
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Bethel named gun violence and illegal drug activity as top priorities, plus other crimes “that have kept that community pretty much imprisoned for a long time.”
Accountability
The Philadelphia Police Academy’s entire graduating class – a total of 78 new officers – will patrol Kensington “24/7” starting June 18. Their deployment will increase the neighborhood’s police force by almost 200%.
Accountability
In the weeks since the city dismantled the Kensington Avenue encampment, legal observers, harm reduction advocates, and service providers are wondering why the police gave Christian volunteers more access than others.
Accountability
Some residents feel safer, while others say the spillover from the sweep and increased police presence has caused problems on side streets.
Accountability
Following an encampment sweep on the 3000 and 3100 blocks of Kensington Avenue Wednesday, police have flooded the area, leading residents and activists to wonder when a law enforcement crackdown is coming
Accountability
When outreach workers arrived, the people staying in tents and structures on the 3000-3100 blocks of Kensington Avenue were gone.
Accountability
No city social services were present when police dispersed the encampments despite promises from city leaders that the initiative would be “service-led.”
Accountability
On Wednesday, social service providers and police officers will tell people living in tents or makeshift structures on Kensington Avenue’s 3000 and 3100 blocks to relocate.
