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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Police Physical Abuse Complaints Rise 40%

The video of the violent Philadelphia Police arrest of three shooting suspects has led to several investigations.

“We investigate them all and try to get to the bottom of it,” said Chief Inspector Anthony DiLacqua. He said it’s one of many alleged police involved incidents Internal Affairs is investigating. In fact, they’ve received more complaints this year than in the same time last year and they’ve seen an increase since the arrest that was caught on tape.

“There were five additional jobs this week compared to the same week last year.”

Overall, complaints against police are up 14%. Internal Affairs data shows complaints of police committing verbal abuse are up 77% and physical abuse complaints against police are up 40% so far this year. It’s important to note that physical abuse complaints are not always extreme.

“It could be everything to I was beat up by police to my handcuffs were too tight and my wrists are sore,” said Chief Inspector DiLacqua.

William Johnson is with the Police Advisory Commission and said, “We noted that there were about 87 complaints filed with the police department around this time last year we’ve received about 131.” Johnson said they take all complaints seriously, not just violent ones.

“Issues of abuses of authority are most common. Illegal searches, seizures and detainments are reported too.”

Chief Inspector DiLacqua also stressed that not all complaints are founded and in some cases the officers are exonerated. He cites the violent arrest as a possible example.

“There were many officers on the scene that simply pulled up and got out of the vehicle and were just standing by who had no physical contact at all with any of the three defendants who were arrested but we look into them.”

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