David Fisher, a former Philadelphia police officer and current president of the Greater Philadelphia chapter of the National Black Police Association, said the act puts too many limits on officers, and allows deviant drivers to get away with violations that create an unsafe situation for others.
“You’ve opened Pandora’s box to a lot of illegal vehicles on the street, a lot of carjackings, a lot of drive-by shootings, cars being driven from North Philadelphia to West Philadelphia to commit a crime, but you can’t stop that car because the equality bill has taken that tool,” he said.
He said the incident in Memphis illustrates a need to better vet aspiring police officers during the recruitment and hiring process.
Holding police accountable
Thomas says the bill was partially inspired by his own experiences being pulled over as a Black man. Philadelphia police officers have been involved in multiple deadly use of force incidents that began with a traffic stop — including the fatal shooting of David Jones in 2017 and the killing of Brandon Tate-Brown in 2014.
Khalif, who is Tate-Brown’s cousin, said Nichols’s death in Memphis is another reminder of the need for measures that limit police power.
“We cannot allow anyone to feel, especially in Philadelphia, that they are above the law — the Rizzo days are over,” he said, referencing former police commissioner and mayor Frank Rizzo, who was known for encouraging violence during his time as top cop, especially against Black communities.
“And they will never come back again, not as long as grassroots activists like myself and others are putting our bodies on the line.”
Khalif said the next mayor should instate a new police commissioner and create policy that both prevents police brutality and ensures officers are held accountable for wrongdoing.
In January, mayoral candidate Jeff Brown told a group of potential voters that if elected, he would consider repealing the Driving Equality Act, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Thomas issued a statement on Jan. 27 responding to what he called an “attack” on the policy.
“To make a statement around driving equality without talking to me … is irresponsible and offensive and should not be tolerated,” he wrote.