The chair of Philadelphia's Citizens Police Oversight Commission, Hassan Bennett, has been charged with witness intimidation, conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility, and bribery. Investigators allege Bennett sold a witness's name and an unredacted arrest report to an inmate involved in a domestic violence attempted murder case.
According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Bennett allegedly read details from the arrest report to the inmate, Thomas Scott, and provided the witness's full name. Scott, who is accused of vowing to "blow down" the witness, then allegedly sought to intimidate the witness into recanting their statement and not appearing in court.
Bennett, who also works for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, was previously convicted of second-degree murder in 2008 but was acquitted in a retrial in 2019. The Citizens Police Oversight Commission was established after the 2020 protests following George Floyd's death.
Scott offered Bennett $500 for the paperwork, prosecutors said, and then disseminated the information to others to intimidate the witness. Both Bennett and Scott face felony charges.
Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, a spokeswoman for the National Police Association, called the incident a "cautionary tale" for other cities, emphasizing the need for ethical individuals in oversight roles.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner stated that while Bennett's alleged actions are serious, they do not reflect on the overall work of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission or the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission confirmed that Bennett is on leave and stated they would "take appropriate steps to protect confidential information" while continuing their work on police accountability and transparency.