Rochelle Bilal, who serves as the President of the local chapter of the National Black Police Association, on Wednesday chuckled at the idea that the Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission, which for months has been in a transition period and will in October have a full-time Executive Director, could alleviate her current circumstances.

Bilal, as an advocate, is standing behind six narcotic cops who have complained that their superiors have encouraged corruption while creating a racially-hostile work environment. A civil-rights lawyer has been retained and formal complaints have been filed.

Mr. Richard Ross, the Philadelphia Police Commissioner, on Thursday confirmed that an Internal Affairs investigation of the allegations are underway.

“I personally wish they would have allowed that investigation to go forward before doing a press conference,” stated Mr. Ross.

At that Wednesday afternoon press conference was Reverend Robert Shine, who pastors the Berachah Baptist Church in the Logan section of the city. Rev. Shine served on the city’s police oversight board for more than a decade.

Retooled and with a bit more cash, the PAC is noticeable now for its absence of black clergy. Equally noticeable – even when taking into consideration the transition period – is its lack of public engagement.

When asked whether he believed Ms. Bilal would be dismissive of the PAC had it been the version of which he was apart, Rev. Shine said “absolutely not.”

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“We were very assertive and very investigatory,” the reverend touted. “Any infraction of the law by the police department, we were right on that case.”

If what Rev. Shine, who’s a well-respected member of the Philadelphia faith community, says is true, then the PAC today exist as an opposite of yesteryear. Philadelphia isn’t short on policing issues. Yet the responses to them, and the statements about them, from the agency range from lackluster to nonexistent.

For example, right before the summer, a news story broke which alleged that Philadelphia police officers were reaching into the underwear of black men during stop-and-frisk encounters. Mr. Ross plead ignorance of the facts then. But on June 19th, in a private meeting, the police commissioner confirmed that, after further research, the practice had been occurring. It has since been ordered to stop.

The city, at this time, was conducting a national search for someone to lead the PAC, which had, and still has, a consultant serving as its interim Executive Director. The population of commissioners then didn’t include black men or women. And, the PAC appeared to not have acknowledged at all this egregiousness. No more of this matter has been spoken of by media or policing officials. It has seemingly vanished, as has the PAC’s political footprint.

This August, the Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board spelled out how the PAC, which just gained 13 new commissioners, could become “relevant.” Among its recommendations were to “speak up” and “get attention paid to important issues.”

Rev. Shine offered similar advice. And on the particular issue that Ms. Bilal is raising, the reverend said his team would have gone the whole nine yards, and then some. He wants to see this version of the commission act similarly.

The PAC can obtain wins. People in this city desire to see it succeed, and be permanent – even Rev. Shine was fighting for permanency when he served. But in order to win, one has to fight. And in order to corral other fighters to your corner, one must inspire.

The goal of the PAC shouldn’t be to recreate yesteryear but rather to be better than. Falter further the PAC mustn’t!

Thanks for reading! Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® and I’m Drumming for Justice!™

Photo courtesy of the author.