Opinion: The FOP Contract and How the Police Do Not Keep Us Safe

The FOP contract negotiation process is still ongoing and it is expected to be finalized sometime in September. With the advocacy and organizing of the Community Control Now Campaign, the hard work and piloting of Deputy Mayor Rich Lazer and the Office of Labor, and the leadership and persistence of Council Member Katherine Gillmore Richardson, history took place last month when community members testified at the closed arbitration hearings. Often times, arbitrators get in the way of police accountability and real discipline for violent cops. "Since 2013, only 2% of community member formal complaints against Philly police have resulted in a guilty finding, and 70% of those guilty verdicts were reduced or overturned after binding arbitration." It's about time arbitrators heard from community members. "We cannot allow the FOP to dictate our future. Let this be the moment where our city negotiates for us. We deserve it, and our lives depend on it." Be sure to check out and share our op-ed on Generosity, authored by our own Mary Stricker.

For information on how to get involved with the #CommunityControlNow Campaign visit: bit.ly/ReclaimCCN