Final House Committee Report on Philadelphia Crime Harshly Rebukes DA Larry Krasner

A pedestrian walks past bullet holes in the window of a store front on South Street in Philadelphia, Pa., on June 5, 2022. Kriston Jae Bethel/AFP/Getty Images

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner “Ignores reality and claims Philadelphia does not have a crisis of crime,” according to the third and final report of the Pennsylvania House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order.

The committee was tasked with investigating rising crime rates; the use of public funds intended for enforcing the law and prosecuting crime, and the enforcement of crime victims’ rights in the City of Philadelphia, where there have been 471 homicides this year as of Nov. 28.

Krasner—a Democrat whose campaign was funded in part by billionaire George Soros—is accused of declining to prosecute many drug, theft, and prostitution cases and implementing bail policies that quickly put violent offenders back on the street.

Two preliminary reports were released previously. The second report was the foundation of the move by Pennsylvania House Republicans to vote to impeach Krasner. They are expected to deliver relevant Articles of Impeachment to the State Senate chamber in Harrisburg on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. After that, there is likely to be a robust debate about what to do with the package of impeachment resolutions.

Gun Crimes Explode

The third report, released Tuesday, offers recommendations to curb crime by increasing the prosecution of violent crimes, including gun crimes.

Data from the district attorney’s office shows there has been a sharp increase in firearm violations. Illegal possession has risen from 1,138 incidents in 2015 to 3,224 in 2021. A city controller’s report shows, as of Nov. 10, incidents of both fatal and non-fatal shootings this year already exceed all of 2021.

“We do not believe that arresting people and convicting them for illegal gun possession is a viable strategy to reduce shootings,” Krasner said in early 2022, the report said.

Investigators work the scene where multiple people were shot near a high school in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2022. Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Committee Chairman Republican Rep. John Lawrence acknowledged in a letter introducing the report that many had hoped that Krasner’s reforms would have delivered positive changes to the city.

“The election of Mr. Krasner was a repudiation of heavy-handed law-enforcement practices prevalent in Philadelphia for many years. These past practices were wrong, and directly resulted in far-reaching consequences both for individuals and society as a whole,” Lawrence wrote. “Many hoped Mr. Krasner’s reforms would bring a new dawn of justice to a city that has long faced challenges. Unfortunately, by any objective measure, his policies have failed Philadelphians. The facts speak for themselves. Record numbers of shootings, homicides, and car jackings have residents living in fear and businesses closing.”

The Select Committee report recognized that some have advocated for new gun laws in Philadelphia, and it recommends a review of how existing Philadelphia-specific laws are being enforced.

Hazard Pay

Violent crime is so prevalent in Philadelphia that the report recommends special hazard pay for Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) officers. When on patrol, police must wear ballistic protective vests, and the report says the U.S. Department of Labor defines hazard pay as additional pay for performing hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship. Work duty that causes extreme physical discomfort and distress which is not adequately alleviated by protective devices is deemed to impose a physical hardship.

“It is the Select Committee’s opinion that, in the current high-crime Philadelphia environment, PPD officers required to wear ballistic/protective vests pursuant to the PPD directives, are performing hazardous duties beyond that for which they are currently compensated. Accordingly, and to aid in the PPD’s retention and hiring of officers at this time of great need, the Select Committee recommends that the House consider a bill to temporarily fund a grant to provide hazard pay for PPD officers.”

The city is having a hard time recruiting officers. The hope is that hazard pay will help retain and attract officers. The report also recommends a closer look at why police are leaving.

Investigators work the scene where multiple people were shot including police officers in Philadelphia, on Oct. 12, 2022. Matt Rourke/AP Photo

PPD’s staffing has decreased from 6,590 filled uniform positions at the end of Fiscal Year 2019 to 5,983 at the end of FY 2022. The decline is expected to continue, based on recent attrition and recruiting trends. The total could dip below 5,200 by the end of FY 2025.

Of the currently filled positions, an average of 572 officers were unavailable for duty in the fourth quarter of FY 2022 as the result of an Injured-on-Duty Claim.

“No recommendation or proposal can replace effective prosecution of crime by a district attorney committed to the rule of law. Leading voices across the political and legal landscape have expressed grave concerns about the district attorney’s actions, and I share these concerns,” Lawrence said.

“As Chairman, I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Krasner will not change his ways. In my view, as long as he holds the office of district attorney, the city will struggle to maintain law and order. And those who will suffer the most will be the citizens of Philadelphia, needlessly terrorized by violent criminals who should be behind bars.”

Impeachment Shelf Life

It is unclear how long impeachment will remain on the lips of the Legislature. In a statement, Democrat Sen. Jay Costa opposed any vote on the package of impeachment resolutions that would govern the impeachment trial of Krasner on the grounds that carrying the proceedings over from the 2021-22 to the 2023-24 legislative session is unconstitutional.

Wednesday marks the end of the 2021-22 Legislative session. The Constitution of the Commonwealth and the prior practice of the body are clear that any business before the Senate that has not been finally completed prior to midnight on this day ceases to exist, Costa said in a press release.

The package of impeachment resolutions will not survive tomorrow’s deadline, the Senate Minority Leader said. The conclusion that the rules resolution survives the expiration of session with no appointed date for resumption, violates the state Constitution and establishes a terrible precedent, he said.

“We cannot ignore that the current majority in the House of Representatives that sent us this impeachment resolution was voted out, and control of the chamber flipped from Republican to Democrat,” Costa said. “To proceed with this trial would undermine the voice of the people of this commonwealth, who voted just weeks ago to send new representatives to the halls of power.”