Philly controller audit finds widespread problems in the police department

The Philadelphia City Controller released an audit of the city police department’s $800 million budget and found a host of problems from staffing to 911 response times. In the 85-page report, controller REBECCA RHYNHART details understaffing, high attrition and low recruitment issues, and the high percentage of its budget spent on employee compensation compared to other cities.

The review also highlights abuses of the Heart and Lung benefit program, poor deployment of resources, too many redundancies and outdated practices and technology and found significant disparities in 911 response times with Black and brown communities waiting twice as long as white neighborhoods. Rhynhart also points out that the police department’s major crime fighting strategy, Operation Pinpoint, has never been probably evaluated. Rhynhart joins us to talk about the audit’s findings and its recommendations.

We’ll also hear from RICK COLLINS, who served on the controller’s Community Council and from State Representative CHRIS RABB, who with Representative Brian Sims, has introduced legislation to make the Heart and Lung benefit program more transparent.

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