Residents vent at West Philly forum over treatment from cops

Outraged citizens filed into a West Philadelphia church last night to voice their grievances about a perceived lack of respect from police.

At least 15 people gave testimonials of alleged police brutality and harassment at the forum, held at the Sweet Union Baptist Church on 59th Street near Lansdowne Avenue. They also provided tips on crime hot spots.

Anger emerged at the West Philadelphia forum as folks addressed the well-publicized YouTube video that shows police whacking Askia Sabur multiple times with batons last month in front of a Chinese takeout restaurant, spurring 21 forums around the city last night.

Sabur's father, Abdus, was escorted out of the church by friends and family after he broke down in tears while talking about his son. "Where's your love? Where's your love for my son?" Abdus said. "You done beat up my son. You can't smile your way out of this."

Despite numerous witnesses who were on the corner of Allison Street and Lansdowne Avenue when the incident occurred, Lt. Allan Branson, the Internal Affairs officer investigating the Sabur case, said people were not coming forward.

"It's a little weird because people will be outraged about the actions of police but I don't know how outraged they are about this. They don't want to make a statement on the record," Branson said. He said that so far only one person has given a statement but that the person did not want to be on record.

"I'm not protecting any cop," he told residents. "We can only work with the information we get from civilians."

Capt. Melvin Singleton encouraged residents to document and file complaints against any officer they believe has done something wrong. He urged people to get badge and car numbers.

"There is a lack of communication about how to make a formal complaint," Singleton said. Citizen complaint forms were handed out to the crowd.

But Giovanni Tanner, 26, of Overbrook, said he filed a complaint with Internal Affairs after officers beat him in 2008 at a bar where he worked. He said the case is still under investigation.

"It's a dark cloud over my head," said Tanner, who was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and endangering a person. "I can't get a job. You don't hear young people stepping up and, when they do, you don't believe them."Singleton said there are 238 cops policing a population of 90,000.

"You need to understand and we need to understand each other. The 19th District is a violent place," he said adding that the district has 11 homicides, 70 shooting victims, more than 200 robberies and 400 burglaries.

"This is not a fight," Singleton said. "What I need here is unity."