January 29, 2015

Ronald L. Davis, Director

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
145 N Street NE
Washington, DC 20530
Re: Collaborative Reform Review of Philadelphia Police Department
Dear Mr. Davis:
We write to inquire about the status of the ongoing Collaborative Reform Review of the Philadelphia
Police Department. When Department of Justice officials met with citizens in July 2014 at a public forum
organized by the Commission in City Hall, it was stated that the initial public report would be released by
late December 2014. We are a few days short of February 2015, and there has been no word regarding
public release of the report.
Since the forum in July, Commissioner Ramsey and other police department officials have been
extensively briefed about the initial findings, and have made a number of changes to improve the
department as a result. While we strongly supported Commissioner Ramseys call for the shooting review
and the stated goals of the collaborative reform process here and in other cities, the lengthy delay in
releasing details to the public undermines citizen participation and transparency, two of the most
important components of the collaborative reform process.
The individuals and organizations that brought very serious concerns and testimony to the table around
police shootings in Philadelphia are anxious to evaluate the outcome of the review for themselves. While
the events in Ferguson, MO and around the U.S. that resulted in the formation of the Presidents Task
Force on 21st Century Policing are dominating public attention, the ongoing reviews your office has
undertaken in Philadelphia, Baltimore, MD and Spokane WA hold tremendous potential for very specific
improvements in the short term, but only if citizens believe that collaboration means their views, input
and evaluations of the process are as valuable as those offered by law enforcement.
Sincerely,

Kelvyn Anderson
Executive Director
Police Advisory Commission
Philadelphia, PA