By Bobby Allyn
Newsworks
Allegations of police abuse and misconduct cost Philadelphia taxpayers around $10 million a year. The figure sometimes creeps even higher, as in 2014 when the city shelled out $14 million to settle abuse claims, according city records.
Since 2011, officials have settled more than 200 cases alleging that the cops used excessive force, the most common complaint lodged against city police. The number of settled suits claiming that police falsely arrested someone exceeds 120 over the same period, records obtained by WHYY/NewsWorks show.
So far in 2015, city residents have filed 184 lawsuits against police, claiming their civil rights were violated in some way. Just four of those suits have been settled.
“Most cases of police misconduct are never filed. What’s the cost there?” said Paul Hetznecker, an attorney who often represents litigants in suits against the city’s police department.
Data provided by Philadelphia City Solicitor’s Office. (Katie Bayes/NewsWorks)
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