6.8.18: Philadelphia – (Politics): A new trespass policy developed in the wake of the controversial April 12 arrests at a Center City Starbucks location has been announced today by the Philadelphia Police Department and is effective immediately.
Commissioner’s Memorandum #18-02 provides officers with guidance on how to respond to calls related to trespassing on private business property that is open to the public. According to a communication released by PPD, a policy review determined that there was no specific policy addressing the crime of “Defiant Trespass” aside from the PA Crimes Code and the PA Rules of Criminal Procedure.
“The new policy provides officers with guidance on how to respond to calls about trespassing on private business properties that are open to the public. This allows police to take actions, with the help of their supervisor, that are most appropriate in each individual case,” the police commissioner said in a statement.
Police Commissioner Richard Ross quickly defended his officers following the arrests, which drew international condemnation. He apologized shortly thereafter.
However, the police department’s Internal Affairs Division conducted an investigation into the actions taken by the officers and determined that the officers adhered to state law mandates and did not violate department violate policy as it existed then.
Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said it was “completely inappropriate” for an employee to call the police in this case. On May 29th, Starbucks locations across the country closed for an afternoon due to mandatory racial bias training.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney – who asserted that the April controversy exemplified what racial discrimination looks like in 2018 – said he was “pleased” with the police department’s new policy.
“I view this policy as another positive step as our City learns and grows from the Starbucks incident,” the Mayor said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
Mayor Kenney also noted that his Administration plans to propose legislation to make defiant trespassing a civil offense that can result in a fine rather than arrest.
The City of Philadelphia settled with Mr. Donte Robinson and Mr. Rashon Nelson, the two men who were recorded on video being escorted out the 18th and Spruce Street location after spending only two minutes in the store, for a symbolic $1 each.
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Photo courtesy of the author.