Tyre Nichols’ death is a reminder that Philly police need more oversight

The killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tenn., is a direct call to action on police oversight in the city of Philadelphia. The brutality witnessed at the hands of an uncontrolled band of Memphis police officers is a deadly reminder that civilian oversight of policing is not optional if we are serious about meaningful reform. It is an essential part of the solution.

And let’s be clear: Police abuse is not just the problem of large cities like Philadelphia and Memphis. Earlier this month in Lower Merion Township, police tased a Black woman during a traffic stop outside a Wawa.

The newly formed Citizens Police Oversight Commission in Philadelphia must act immediately to fulfill its mission to hold police accountable. Without accountability, there can be no community trust. Only with accountability can there be justice for all.

“Only with accountability can there be justice for all.”

Last year in Philadelphia, City Council approved legislation creating the Citizens Police Oversight Commission following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Walter Wallace Jr. in 2020.

We, as leaders of Live Free — a campaign to end gun violence, mass incarceration, and the criminalization of Black and brown bodies that tears at the soul of our society — spearheaded efforts to mobilize that vote and have since participated in the selection process for its candidates.

Since that time, the Citizens Police Oversight Commission has seated its first group of commissioners. While this is noteworthy, we are concerned that the commission has not yet hired a permanent executive director. Another significant vacancy in the Citizens Police Oversight Commission is director of investigations, which has prevented the hiring of the investigators required to do the commission’s work.

The Citizens Police Oversight Commission must demonstrate a greater sense of urgency, given recent events, to prevent future tragedies in our community.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Nichols, the city of Memphis, and all the people who have been once again traumatized by the murder of an unarmed Black citizen at the hands of law enforcement. As a faith-based organizing movement, we offer prayers from our multiple faith traditions and join with others who call for justice for Nichols.

Furthermore, we take this time to stress to the members of City Council the need to fully fund the Citizens Police Oversight Commission in the important mission of greater police accountability. The current funding level was set to assist with the transition from the Police Advisory Commission. The community was assured that more funds would be granted to the work of the new commission, but that has yet to materialize. Based on our conversations with those organizing similar efforts under the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, the budget of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission should be close to 5% of the total Police Department budget.

Finally, we must not be satisfied with the termination and charging of the police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols. Justice will only be served if the former Memphis officers are treated just as other persons in a similar situation.

Consider for a moment the 2017 killing of Dennis Plowden Jr. in Philadelphia. Former officer Eric Ruch was investigated, terminated, indicted, and convicted. Yet, the sentence handed down by the court was a slap in the face to the Plowden family and the community. We must see the entire process play out as it would for anyone else in order for the Nichols family to receive justice. The investigation, termination, indictment, trial, conviction, and sentence of these officers must be commensurate with their crime.

Only when we demonstrate with our actions that no one is above the law will the broken trust be repaired.

The Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler is a pastor at Mother Bethel AME Church and the director of Live Free and Civic Engagement for POWER Interfaith. Elder Melanie DuBouse is the director of Live Free for POWER Interfaith. Gayle Lacks and Michael Clemmons are cochairs of Live Free for POWER Interfaith.