Philadelphia Sheriff strikes reform deal with city and courts

The Philadelphia sheriff’s office has promised to enact several reforms.  The deal struck with the city and the courts preserves the sheriff’s independence while it works to reform itself. 

The agreement calls for the sheriff’s office to follow city policies in contracting and financial disbursements.  Acting Philadelphia sheriff Barbara Deeley is pleased with the arrangement.

“In signing this memorandum, we preserve the independence of this office, for the next elected sheriff who will take office in January of 2012, but we also insure the next sheriff will have financial controls in place to assure accountability,” said Deeley.

Mayor Michael Nutter says the agreement calls for a board to review sheriff’s office operations.

“This new board will advise the Sheriff, the First Judicial District and me on reform issues related to mortgage foreclosure sales, sheriff’s sales and other functions of the Sheriff’s office,” said Nutter.

The mayor says the board is not designed to be a step to abolishing an elected Sheriff, as some have advocated.