Philadelphians have long looked to the Police Department's Civil Affairs officers to defuse unruly confrontations like the street brawl Saturday night in Port Richmond. But that night, an off-duty Civil Affairs cop shot and killed an unarmed 21-year-old.
So how did Civil Affairs Sgt. Frank Tepper - who fired the round that killed aspiring barber William "Billy" Panas Jr. - lose his touch as a peacemaker?
That's a question Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and the District Attorney's Office need to answer quickly. If the inquiry drags on into January, it will be the first major test for freshman District Attorney Seth Williams - who takes over an office that, under Lynne M. Abraham, often was slow to prosecute cops for wrongdoing.
This isn't a case where the usual one to two years should be allowed to lapse before citizens are given a full explanation why an officer resorted to deadly force.
There are just too many troubling questions about the events leading up to Panas' shooting during the 11 p.m. incident outside Tepper's own home on Elkhart Street near Edgemont.
If witness accounts are accurate, Tepper, 43, appeared drunk as he tried to break up the fight involving his relatives, including his own son.
Witnesses allege Tepper fired a gun after chasing the victim and exchanging words with him. Panas was quoted as pleading, "Come on, you're not going to shoot me." To which the officer was said to respond, "Oh, yeah?"
The official version of events is that Tepper was assaulted by several brawlers, prompting him to fire in self-defense. Clearly, that account must be tested by a thorough review of the events.
For one thing, police and prosecutors need to investigate how the incident jibes with neighbors' reports of erratic behavior at other times from the 16-year veteran.
Tepper was said to have brandished his police service weapon, fired into the air, maced neighborhood teens, and even shot at a rodent on the sidewalk.opossum
Had those problems come to the attention of the Police Department? And, if so, why wasn't disciplinary action - if warranted - taken earlier?
At the very least, Tepper may well have erred by wading into a brawl that involved his family. Long-standing department policy says officers should not "take action" in such disputes unless it's necessary to "prevent bodily injury or death." As described, this confrontation involved no one with a weapon - with the exception of the sergeant himself.
The Port Richmond incident is the fourth recent case in which city police officers allegedly have abused their authority, often to settle personal scores. That calls out for a broader look by Ramsey at reinforcing policies designed to prevent officers from misusing their badges.
Only a full accounting will do.
I happen to live in the neighborhood and know full well that the youths around here are not all that "innocent"..I have also known the officer in question for almost 3 decades and I know that he is a decent human being. Everyone involved in this is in some way affected..But to crucify someone before they have had a fair hearing is not the right thing to do either..This officer has family too— concernedandsteamed- Why didn't the PPD test Tepper for alcohol after he was picked up? If the investigation was botched so that no charges can be filed against the perp cop, then conspiracy charges need to be added.
This is a typical case of how desensitized we've become to guns and violence. It's highly inappropriate to use a gun and kill someone for a street brawl. If he should have done anything, Tepper should have shot the gun in the air to break up the fight.— ej610- I agree concernedandsteamed. I moved out of Port Richmond and it was mostly because of the kids. The majority of the kids that hang out on the street have no respect for anyone or anyones property. I an not condoning the cops actions...but the kids in that neighborhood are an issue...— logit47
Comment removed.- Saying the kids "are not all that 'innocent'" as a justification for a cop with a history shooting an apparent peacemaker in the chest is obscene. There are far too many who slavishly worship the police, and we're increasingly sandwiched between the common criminals and the cops. I hate to say it, but it's time to get armed and protect ourselves instead of relying on the "authorities" who can't protect us and are sometimes part of the threat. Does that p.o. you officers and your staunch supporters? Then DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY to restore respect for your badge. You know who the rotten ones are; stop defending them.— Ben9
- Purplehaze70 - your analysis is so right-on-the-money. Good thinking and we'll never get them close to treating their own like they treat the very citizens who pay their salaries - DUI?....just drop the off-duty at home to sleep it off. Off-duty shooting?....take a long long long time to concoct some far-reaching story to justify the shooting and clear the off-duty who, by the way....will receive pay and benefits the entire time the "investigation" is going on.— zen
- Why does a trained police officer need to shot and kill and unarmed person was he that afraid for his life that he had to shot an unarmed person. Tepper did not use justifiable force.— streetjustice
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