Five Phila. officers fired, three over slurs

Five Philadelphia police officers were fired yesterday for alleged misconduct, including two incidents in which officers were accused of using racial slurs.

Among them was William Thrasher, 24, who allegedly called African Americans in his 22d District "animals" and worse.

Thrasher, who had been on the force for two years, was quoted by a Temple University journalism student who was riding with him on patrol for a class assignment.

Shannon McDonald's article was posted on a Temple Web site. Philadelphia media picked up the quotes, which prompted demands for Thrasher's firing.

Officers Donald Swan and Anthony Ferriola were also dismissed on allegations that they used racial epithets on the job. The remarks allegedly were made toward students while the two responded to a fight March 13 inside Audenried High School in South Philadelphia.

The remaining two officers, John Safarowicz and Sgt. Paul Seeger, were terminated for alleged conduct in separate off-duty incidents. They also were criminally charged yesterday.

All five officers were officially suspended 30 days with intent to dismiss. The firings were announced in a news release. Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey was not immediately available for comment.

John McNesby, president of Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said the union would file grievances on behalf of the officers and then review the internal investigations that had been conducted for each of them.

As for the alleged racial slurs, McNesby said the police union did not condone such behavior but questioned whether discipline short of firing was more appropriate.

During the ride-along, Thrasher allegedly referred to the violence in his predominantly African American district as "typical n- s-" or "TNS."

Chris Harper, the associate journalism professor at Temple who edited McDonald's article, said the commissioner's action vindicated the accuracy of McDonald's work.

McDonald, a 21-year-old senior who is about to graduate, went on a three-hour ride with Thrasher on Jan. 30 for Temple's Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab, which is the final required course for a journalism major.

"A journalist did her job," Harper said. "She reported a story. That story was investigated by the Police Department."

After the article gained regional attention, Harper said, McDonald "handled the attention with poise, grace, and sincerity."

The article is still online at www.temple.edu/murl

In a Philadelphia Daily News article about the episode, Ramsey said: "I take this very, very seriously. It's not supposed to happen. You can't serve people you don't respect."

James Golden, chief safety executive for the Philadelphia School District, said: "We are grateful for [Ramsey's] swift and direct action in this case."

Golden said a large fight in Audenried's cafeteria had required a response from school and city police. During the response, students complained, and teachers and other staff allegedly heard Swan and Ferriola utter racial epithets at students.

Swan was a four-year veteran. Ferriola joined the department three years ago.

In the Seeger case, the department said he had become involved in a dispute with family members while at home Sept. 19.

When Seventh District officers responded to the disturbance, Seeger orally threatened the officers and a supervisor, the department said.

Yesterday, Seeger, who had been with the department for 14 years and was assigned to the 25th District, was charged with one count of terrorist threats and one count of disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.

Safarowicz, while off-duty Sept. 21, identified himself as a police officer and pushed his way into a residence in the 4100 block of Merrick Street in Roxborough, where he threatened and assaulted the occupants, the department said.

Safarowicz, who had been with the force for 11 years and was assigned to the 39th District, was charged with burglary and criminal trespass, both felonies, and related offenses.