Democratic Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced the city’s chief police commissioner would be resigning at the end of September as crime continues to rise in the city.
Kenney revealed that Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw would be leaving her current position after accepting a job with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, according to a press release on Tuesday morning.
“Commissioner Outlaw has worked relentlessly for three and a half years during an unprecedented era in our city and a number of crisis situations, and she deserves praise for her commitment to bring long-overdue reform to the Department after years of racism and gender discrimination prior to her appointment,” Kenney said in the press release.
Today, we announced that @PhillyPolice Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has accepted a leadership position with @PANYNJ. Her last day as Police Commissioner will be Sept. 22.
I’ve appointed First Deputy John M. Stanford, Jr. as interim Police Commissioner. https://t.co/Af7qHWhJtT
— Mayor Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) September 5, 2023
Outlaw, who has been the city’s police commissioner for three and a half years and served through the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen rising levels of gun violence and homicides under her tenure, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. (RELATED: Suspect Opens Fire In Philadelphia, Killing At Least 5 And Injuring 2 Children: Reports)
While the city has reported seeing 292 homicides so far this year, compared to 2022’s 369 homicides, a 21% decrease, to date, the city reported seeing an increase in retail, automobile, and general theft compared to 2022, according to the Philadelphia Police Department’s crime statistics.
Philadelphia has reported 17,087 incidents of stolen automobiles, compared to 2022’s 8,312, representing a 105.57% increase. The city has also reported seeing 12,132 incidents of retail theft, compared to 2022’s 9,082, representing a 33.58% increase. Additionally, there have been 10,452 incidents of theft reported so far this year, compared to 2022’s 10,192, a 2.55% increase.
In an effort to address increasing violence in the city, the Philadelphia School District announced it would be using drones in areas more prone to violence.
Other cities such as Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Illinois have also reported seeing an increase in crime. While Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has claimed a “tremendous” safety response during his first couple of months in office, there were 38 more shootings, 41 more murders, and 4,321 more car thefts during Johnson’s first 90 days in office. The District of Columbia was also reported to be on track to see the most homicides in two decades, according to Axios.