Wolf Creates PA Citizens Police Commission

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday signed an order creating a citizens' commission that will work to oversee and improve police practices in the state.

The commission is part of a push for law enforcement reforms by the Wolf administration in the wake of international racial justice protests spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota and other high-profile incidents in which black people were killed while in police custody.

The order on Friday creates the Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Committee.

"My administration is committed to bipartisan criminal justice reforms that are fair and inclusive and support public safety," Wolf said. "My executive order moves us one more step forward to address the systemic failings that have created inequities and public mistrust of law enforcement.

"It is my hope that the commission improves law enforcement relationships with communities and strengthens the accountability of law enforcement personnel."

The commission, established in the Office of State Inspector General, will be made up of 15 members appointed by the governor, including one representative from each of the Pennsylvania State Police's current troop geographic areas and six additional citizen members chosen at large.

Chaired by the Deputy Inspector General for Law Enforcement Oversight — a new position created by the Wolf administration that the state is conducting a nationwide search to fill — the commission will perform reviews of police agencies' internal investigation findings related to incidents involving claims of police bias, police shootings and other instances.

The deputy inspector general will oversee staff on investigations of fraud, waste, misconduct and abuse within law enforcement agencie.

"It is my hope that with input from this commission, the commonwealth’s law enforcement agencies can serve as a model of excellence for law enforcement throughout Pennsylvania and the country," Wolf said.

Last month, Wolf announced efforts to improve police relations with the community and strengthen police training and accountability in Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, the governor signed into law two bills that up the standards for background checks and mental health evaluations of people seeking jobs in law enforcement.

Wolf said the idea for the commission came from meetings with members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and black leaders in Philadelphia and Harrisburg following Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

You can read Friday's executive order here.