Lengthy inquiry in Cassidy case seen

Chief of Detectives Keith Sadler, who is overseeing an internal probe of the detective, said it would be at least several weeks - other authorities put the time frame at perhaps months - before investigators determine whether the detective erred in not seeking an arrest warrant for the pizza robbery after a witness identified Lewis.

The findings will then go to the police commissioner, who has the final say.

"We don't know what happened," Sadler said. "Was there a delay getting an arrest warrant to pursue additional information?"

Lewis, 21, an Olney High School dropout, is in jail, charged with the slaying of Cassidy, who was shot in the head Oct. 31 when he interrupted a robbery in progress that morning at a Dunkin' Donuts in West Oak Lane. Cassidy died the next day.

An employee of Oasis Pizza in Feltonville positively identified Lewis as a regular customer who showed up Oct. 20 with a gun demanding cash. He fled with $150. Despite the identification, no arrest warrant was obtained.

Officials said the internal investigation would focus on several questions:

Did the detective follow protocol in gathering information and pursuing it, or was the detective neglectful when an arrest warrant was not obtained?

Was the detective still investigating the case and looking for more evidence to secure a warrant? Was she assigned another job that took precedence in the busy East Detective Division, which covers some of the city's most crime-ridden neighborhoods?

The question no one can answer is whether Cassidy's death could have been prevented had a warrant been obtained and Lewis arrested, police officials said yesterday.

The name of the detective, who has been on the force for more than 20 years, has been withheld because of the pending investigation. Several people who know her said she was distraught about Cassidy's death.

Many in the police community said the case was troubling on several levels as police try to heal from the loss of Cassidy, a popular patrol officer from the 35th District, while they cope with an investigation of one of their own.

Last week, allegations surfaced within the department that the detective did not actively pursue an arrest warrant for Lewis. However, Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson was not informed until questioned by The Inquirer on Wednesday, when he immediately ordered an internal investigation.

Among other things, Johnson said he wanted to know what other cases the detective was handling when the Oasis robbery was under investigation.

Johnson is adamant that appropriate discipline will be administered, if warranted, but repeated yesterday that it was too early to know whether mistakes were made.

There was an active investigation of the case before Johnson was informed, Sadler said. Sadler said he told his boss, Deputy Commissioner Patricia Giorgio-Fox, what happened, but she said she did not advise the commissioner after she learned about it Friday.

"I just didn't get around to it," Giorgio-Fox said yesterday, adding that the commissioner was not at Police Headquarters on Friday and it slipped her mind when she returned this week.

The two were on stage together Wednesday afternoon for an awards ceremony at Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police, and their offices are near each other on the third floor at headquarters.

It was an oversight not to advise Johnson, she said, adding that it was not intentional but a mistake "because I am human."

John McNesby, president of Philadelphia's FOP, said he was certain the case would be properly investigated.

"If discipline is warranted, that's when we will get involved," McNesby said, adding that the union would provide representation during the investigation if requested. "This is a unique situation."