Police investigating sex scandal allegations against former citizen watchdog

Philadelphia police are investigating allegations that Kelvyn Anderson, a longtime police reformer, had an improper sexual relationship with a woman who went to him for help in a police misconduct case.

The allegations and subsequent investigation by the police department’s Special Victims Unit preceded Anderson’s sudden resignation from the Police Advisory Commission last month, according to the legal website BigTrial.net, which first reported the alleged sex scandal Wednesday.

“We are currently investigating the allegations made, as we do with any allegations of a criminal incident or activity that is deemed to violate the law,” a police spokesperson said in an email to WHYY today. “Due to this being an active investigation, we aren’t at liberty to disclose any additional information at this time. As with many investigations, our department will often work closely with the District Attorney’s Office as an investigation progresses, and they will make the decision as to if the case meets the legal threshold for charges to be filed.”

Anderson did not respond to WHYY’s request for comment.

(photo courtesy Kelvyn Anderson)

Anonymous sources told BigTrial.net that the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office “instructed SVU to shut down the investigation of Anderson.” But Cameron Kline, the DA’s spokesman, told the website that wasn’t true.

Anderson, 57, worked on the commission since 2000 and served as its executive director since 2013. He told WHYY earlier this month that he resigned to pursue opportunities in consulting.