Philadelphia cop accused of assaulting girlfriend

After listing the Philadelphia Police Department as his employer on his Facebook page, Officer Deric Lewis wrote a brief description of his job:

"Locking up people that do dumb s---."

But this weekend, the four-year police veteran found himself locked up after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend during a domestic dispute.

Lewis, 30, works out of the 22nd District, at 17th Street and Montgomery Avenue near Temple University in North Philadelphia. He is the 17th city cop to be arrested in little more than a year.

Lt. Ray Evers, a police spokesman, said the incident involving Lewis and his girlfriend happened about 4 a.m. Saturday, but he declined to give the location because it's a residence where they "cohabitate."

He said the 30-year-old woman was not seriously injured and did not seek medical treatment. Evers said that the incident involved some shoving and that furniture was in disarray, but he declined to elaborate.

"The commissioner feels very strongly about any kind of misconduct," Evers said.

"If it rises enough for probable cause, he's telling Internal Affairs to lock you up. Plain and simple."

A phone message left yesterday by the Daily News at a number listed for Lewis was not returned. He's charged with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats.

He has been suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss, police said.

Since October 2009, 17 city cops have been arrested on charges that include sexual assault and murder.