WHEREAS, When commenting on the conduct of Philadelphia Police during the Republican National Convention (“RNC”), Police Commissioner John Timoney was able to say: “I’ve been in this business for 33 years. I’ve seen lots of demonstrations. I have never, ever seen officers more cool, more calm, more self-assured of themselves”; and
WHEREAS, This conduct took place in the face of having streets trashed, traffic disrupted, property destroyed, personal taunts and physical attacks upon themselves; and
WHEREAS, By adhering to the Police Department’s philosophy of “passive offense for passive resistance” police were able to keep protestors from turning peaceful demonstrations into organized bedlam thereby keeping Center City from raging out of control on the second day of the RNC by exercising restraint learned through months of training; and
WHEREAS, Although more than a dozen police officers were injured, numerous police and civilian vehicles damaged and nearly 400 arrests were made, the police remained “extraordinary under extraordinary circumstances” [Commissioner Timoney] and “conducted themselves with grace under fire” [Mayor Street]; and
WHEREAS, The police “kept control of the City by not losing control of themselves”; and that “[w]hen demonstrators took to the streets, police deployed in force, but always with plenty of command personnel to make sure officers stayed composed”; and “instead of clubs, pepper spray and gas, police…relied on patience”; and
WHEREAS, The people of Philadelphia remained composed during the turmoil resulting from demonstrations, praising the police for their conduct as did the press and persons generally critical of police conduct, for which we are grateful and whose praise made police morale soar; and
WHEREAS, City Council wishes to recognize the supervision and coordination of effort provided by City personnel, including but not limited to, Managing Director Joseph Martz, Police Commissioner John F. Timoney, Deputy Police Commissioners Sylvester Johnson, Robert Mitchell and Thomas Nestel, Police Captain William Fisher, Police Officer Raymond Felder, who was seriously injured in the line of duty, and to Licenses and Inspections Commissioner Edward McLaughlin; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the conduct of both uniformed and civilian employees of the City of Philadelphia, the citizens of the City and those protestors who managed to deliver their messages without damaging property or unduly interfering with the rights of others during the Year 2000 Republican National Convention, held in the City of Philadelphia, is hereby memorialized.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That Engrossed copies of this resolution shall be presented to Managing Director Joseph Martz, Police Commissioner John F. Timoney, Deputy Police Commissioners Sylvester Johnson, Robert Mitchell and Thomas Nestel, Police Captain William Fisher, Police Officer Raymond Felder and Licenses and Inspections Commissioner Edward McLaughlin.
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