To reduce officers’ exposure to COVID-19 and curb the disease spread, the Philadelphia Police Department has been directed to postpone arrests for low-level criminal offenses.
An internal memo obtained by Billy Penn and WHYY revealed the decision announced by the department.
As per the memo, Philadelphia authorities will halt arrests for specific nonviolent crimes, including all narcotic offenses, retail theft, vandalism, burglary, and prostitution.
Effective immediately, the arrests for these offenses will be carried out through arrest warrants, as stated in the memo by Outlaw.
Under this new protocol, officers can detain and identify a suspect for evidence collection, followed by the release of the alleged offender. Subsequently, officers will submit an arrest affidavit to the District Attorney’s Charging Unit. The memo reads, “If the charges are approved the assigned detective will obtain an Arrest warrant. The warrant will be served at a later time, as conditions dictate.”
BREAKING: @phillypolice officers instructed to stop making arrests for following list of what are consider non-violent crimes. Here is the email sent to city police officers telling them to just obtain arrest warrants for now. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/GYl13T67uK
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) March 17, 2020
“We are supportive of Commissioner Outlaw’s directive on making arrests during the Coronavirus crisis,” stated John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 to Fox29. “The directive was released to keep officers safe during this public-health crisis. Meanwhile, violent offenders will be arrested and processed with the guidance of a police supervisor.”