Policing

Bystanders to fatal overdoses increasingly becoming criminal defendants

More and more, trouble is following fellow drug users, friends and relatives of those dying from overdoses.

8 years ago

Demonstrators rally outside the Cinemark Theatres in Philadelphia. Last week, police were called on a black family who were unsatisfied with their movie experience. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Family calls for boycott of Cinemark theaters after West Philly altercation

Dozens rally in support of family after minor incident results in 10 Philadelphia police officers responding to theater

8 years ago

Listen 2:27

Philly and ICE have different stories about arrest warrant

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is accusing the city of Philadelphia of not living up to its promise of limited cooperation on handin ...

8 years ago

Politics & Policy

Digital parking meter plan up for a vote in N.J.

The digital parking meters alert enforcement officers about any violation so they can ticket the offending vehicle.

8 years ago

One of the vehicles in the funeral procession for Antwon Rose Jr. has a message displayed as it arrives at the Woodland Hills Intermediate school on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Swissvale, Pa. Rose was fatally shot by a police officer seconds after he fled a traffic stop June 19, in the suburb of East Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Officer charged with homicide in fatal shooting of teen in Pittsburgh

A Pennsylvania police officer who shot an unarmed black teenager has been charged with criminal homicide.

8 years ago

Officer Wilson’s sister Shak’ra Wilson-Burroughs told the press she is disgusted with the plea deal for her brother’s killers. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Killers of Philly cop take plea deal to avoid death penalty

Family members of Sgt. Robert Wilson III were told late Friday about the plea deal for brothers Carlton Hipps and Ramone Williams that offered life plus 50 to 100 years.

8 years ago

Listen 1:57

In this undated frame from video provided by John Fetterman for Lieutenant Governor shows Antwon Rose in a campaign announcement. Funeral services are being held Monday, June 25, 2018, for Rose, who was shot and killed by police when he fled a traffic stop in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. (John Fetterman for Lieutenant Governor via AP)

Mourners: Black teen killed by police more than a hashtag

Funeral services were held on Monday for a teenager shot and killed by police when he fled a traffic stop near Pittsburgh last week.

8 years ago

In this file photo, a Philadelphia Police officer demonstrates a body-worn camera used as part of a pilot project in December 2014, in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

Pennsylvania State Police launch body-camera pilot program

Mary Catherine Roper of the ACLU of Pennsylvania gives the new policy a B-minus.

8 years ago

An iPhone seen in Washington. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

NPR

In major privacy win, Supreme Court rules police need warrant to track your cellphone

In a major win for privacy rights, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that police must obtain a search warrant in order to get access to cellphone location information.

8 years ago

In this Dec. 4, 2014, file photo protesters rally in New York's Foley Square against a state grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer involved in the death of Eric Garner. (Jason DeCrow/AP Photo, File)

Health

The Freddie Gray effect: Black Americans’ mental health suffers after police killings

The negative effect on African-Americans’ mental health peaked in the month after a police killing, and it dissipated after three months.

8 years ago

Owners watch as their dogs play Tuesday at Talley Day Bark Park north of Wilmington. No leashes are required at bark parks. (Shirley Min/WHYY)

New Castle County police: Leash your dog or pay up

To ensure the safety of visitors to New Castle County parks, police officers are cracking down on their enforcement of the county’s dog off-leash code.

8 years ago

Attorney Robert Levant (left) with his client Khanefah Boozer. “He has been injured in ways that most of us can’t ever fathom,

Huge jury awards often pared before going to compensate victims of Philly police abuse

Money

City officials are concerned because, nearly every year, Philadelphia taxpayers are on the hook for about $10 million total to settle claims of police abuse and misconduct.

8 years ago

Listen 5:13

This screen capture from the CrimeMapping website shows recent incidents of crime in Wilmington. (CrimeMapping.com)

New Wilmington crime mapping tool aims at improving transparency

The city of Wilmington has launched an online crime mapping program aimed at improving transparency, and the police department’s interaction with the public.

8 years ago