La prohibición de detener vehículos por “infracciones secundarias” intenta evitar las disparidades raciales en los incidentes de tráfico atendidos por la policía.

La Driving Equality Law que se aplicará en Filadelfia a partir del 3 de marzo de 2022, clasifica un grupo de infracciones de tráfico de bajo nivel, como los problemas de parachoques y los registros obsoletos, como “secundarias”, lo que significa que no pueden ser la única razón por la que se detiene a un conductor.

La ordenanza va acompañada de una orden ejecutiva que exige al Departamento de Policía que amplíe su registro de paradas de vehículos y publique los datos correspondientes.

Puedes leer: ¡Atentos! Driving Equality Law tiene fecha para entrar en vigencia

De acuerdo a reportaje del Philadelphia Inquirer, la demanda, presentada el martes en el Tribunal de Causas Comunes, pide a un juez que considere la ordenanza inválida sobre la base de que la ciudad no puede adelantarse al Código de Vehículos de Pensilvania existente. La ciudad, el alcalde Jim Kenney y la comisaria de policía Danielle Outlaw son los demandados.

John McNesby, presidente de la Logia 5 de la Orden Fraternal de Policía afirmó que la legislación intenta indebidamente suplantar la ley estatal y, en el proceso, “hace que la ciudad sea menos segura”. También rechazó la idea de que los oficiales tengan como objetivo a los conductores negros cuando realizan paradas de tráfico.

Driver equity law "adversely affects" public safety says @FOPLodge5 in lawsuit filed today. In today’s interview with FOP Lodge 5 President, @john_mcnesby, he expresses the challenges that our officers face and the impact that this new law will have on Philadelphia’s safety. pic.twitter.com/WTzWEKpQb6

— FOPLodge5 (@FOPLodge5) February 23, 2022

“No salimos y decimos: ‘Oh, vamos a parar a siete conductores negros hoy, o a siete conductores asiáticos, o a siete conductores blancos'”, dijo. “Salimos a parar coches ilegales. Para eso estamos entrenados”.

Ordenanza peligrosa

McNesby, agregó que la Driving Equality Law es peligrosa. “Esta terrible ley pone a los conductores imprudentes al volante de vehículos inseguros que, en última instancia, pone al público en general en peligro”.

El presidente del sindicato ya había expresado su preocupación por la ley antes de que fuera aprobada resaltando la importancia de las paradas de tráfico.

Let me be clear, #DrivingEquality reclassifies eight minor motor vehicle code violations. That's it.

This would not make Philly less safe, it would make us more equitable. pic.twitter.com/UQz037ywgw

— Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (@CMThomasPHL) September 22, 2021

“Estas paradas, conducen a cosas más grandes, se decomisan armas, drogas, lleva a cosas más grandes”, dijo. “Tanto si eres negro, como si eres blanco, como si eres asiático, como si eres hispano, obedece la ley. Ponte al volante de un coche legalmente seguro y estarás bien”.

El proyecto de ley fue redactado por el concejal Isaiah Thomas, quien habló con frecuencia sobre su propia experiencia como hombre negro que fue detenido por la policía. Él y otros miembros han afirmado que la ley es jurídicamente sólida. Explica que no cambia las infracciones enumeradas en la ley estatal, pero reclasifica la forma en que se aplican en la ciudad.

The post Sindicato de policía de Philly demanda la Driving Equality Law appeared first on El Sol News Media.

“Despite a rising number of cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, PPD remains confident in its ability to provide adequate staffing levels to maintain the public safety that our city deserves and expects,” a city spokesperson told Action News on Thursday.

According to a nbcphiladelphia report, some officers are hospitalized and many more are quarantining after exposure, causing concern for the Philadelphia Police Union.

“We have a couple in the hospital. We have a number quarantining. Even here in our building we’ve had a number of people that are out with it,” said John McNesby, who heads the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, the officers’ labor group.

Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has said she is confident the department can maintain staffing levels in the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can read: Pennsylvania emphasizes use of contact tracing to fight COVID-19

Due to positive COVID-19 cases and the need to quarantine, the Gun Permits Units closed to the public on Wednesday and is not expected to reopen until December 7.

Sanitized and deep cleaned

The department said all facilities where COVID-19 infected staffs were present would be sanitized and deep cleaned.

McNesby mentioned that during the pandemic, officers responded to protests and large gatherings. That poses several risks, he noted, like being in a crowd, some of whom may not have been wearing masks.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 7,126 additional positive cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 288,978. This is the highest daily increase in cases.

The post Danielle Outlaw is self-quarantining after employee tests positive for COVID-19 appeared first on El Sol News Media.

Bologna, who is also charged with reckless endangerment and possession of an instrument of crime, was applauded by scores of supporters including officers in and out of uniform gathered outside of Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police in a show of solidarity.

In a video on Twitter, the police officer can be seen hitting a 21-year-old Temple University student in the head and neck with a baton, before the student is knocked to the ground and another officer put his knee on him to keep him down. The event occurred during a protest that took place on June 1.

You can read: Philadelphia District Attorney said most looters are not protesters

Bologna has been suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss him from the department.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Friday that the officer had been taken off street duty pending an internal affairs investigation. Hours later, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced that his office would be charging Bologna with a crime. John McNesby, president of the FOP 5 Lodge, said the union was “disgusted” by that action.

Bologna’s attorney said the officer’s actions were justified because the protests had become violent.

Meanwhile, the support received by the officer has transcended the fact of some applause in his honor.

Officers have organized efforts to help cover Bologna’s legal defense, including a GoFundMe page that had collected more than $22,000 as of Monday morning, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The police union also announced on Twitter that it would sell T-shirts saying “Bologna Strong.”

The post Philadelphia police officer charged with aggravated assault is applauded by crowd appeared first on El Sol News Media.

Previously officers were instructed to detain suspects at the scene to be fingerprinted and identified, and then submit paperwork for charges to be filed later.

You can read: Coronavirus restrictions will be eased in 24 Pennsylvania counties

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said that the Police Department protocols are under constant revision to look for possible changes in its procedures.

“Predictably, conditions have in fact evolved in dynamic fashion. Accordingly, we have reviewed our current protocols and have made several adjustments,” she said.

During the last six weeks of the pandemic, police have reportedly delayed arrests for other nonviolent crimes, including some minor drug offenses as well as prostitution and vandalism.

Besides retail theft and burglaries, police are again resuming normal arrests for stealing an automobile, theft from an automobile, and theft from a person.

“For the listed offenses, arrested persons will be immediately transported to a police facility and processed in the traditional manner,” the department said.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 president John McNesby underlined the necessity of “aggressively” fighting crime. “With warmer weather on the horizon and crime likely to spike, we expect our Philadelphia police officers to protect their own safety and carry out their jobs with respect and professionalism,” McNesby said to the Inquirer.

“Our well-trained officers are committed to keeping this city safe, we understand the need to pivot and begin to aggressively fight crime that is impacting all neighborhoods,” McNesby said. “Now, we only need cooperation from the District Attorney’s Office to keep some of these repeat offenders locked up.”

The Police Department assured that it will continue to review its policies and will keep the community informed of relevant revisions.

The post Philadelphia police resumed arrests for non-violent offenses appeared first on El Sol News Media.