Nearly four months after off-duty detective Christopher Sweeney fatally shot Robert Jones, the Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission remains largely in the dark about what transpired. Initially, authorities framed the October 3 shooting as an attempted carjacking but later retracted that claim without further clarification. “We have not had access to the information that we need to make an assessment,” said Tonya McClary, the commission’s executive director.
McClary, a veteran of police oversight in Dallas and New Orleans, has encountered obstacles in Philadelphia, particularly from the police officers’ labor union. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) claims the commission’s investigations infringe on union rights. “Internal Affairs members are part of the Fraternal Order of Police. The FOP says that they have a say in things that are bargainable,” McClary explained. Despite this, she noted that the police department’s leadership has been cooperative: “We actually have a really good relationship with the Police Department. We don’t always agree on everything, of course.”
Established in 2022, the commission was designed to improve transparency and rebuild public trust. “Our mission is pretty simple: to foster accountability, reduce harm, and create a safer Philadelphia by bridging the gap between the community and law enforcement,” McClary said. However, internal challenges—including the resignation or dismissal of five board members—have hindered progress.
A recent commission report highlighted that 85 percent of officers fired by the department were later reinstated, many for excessive force, discrimination, and dishonesty. “The department’s arbitration process remains opaque, lengthy, and confusing,” McClary stated.
While police-involved shootings have declined, McClary believes this trend is multifaceted. “In the climate of post-George Floyd, a lot of officers are afraid to engage in that level of activity,” she noted, acknowledging concerns that hesitation might compromise safety. However, she also sees improvements: “Training is starting to get better… police chiefs, nationwide, are really starting to feel like they need to equip the members of the department with the best training.”
Despite delays, McClary remains optimistic. “Hopefully, there’s going to be some way forward,” she said of ongoing negotiations with the FOP. “The tough question is, what will that look like?”
Link: The Trace
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