Philadelphia police commissioner Danielle Outlaw resigns amid wave of homicides ... trends now
The Philadelphia Police Commissioner has resigned her spot as the Democratic-run city deals with a wave of homicides and lawlessness to take a deputy role with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Danielle Outlaw, 48, who has been Philly's top cop since February 2020, will officially leave the department on September 22. She called her resignation 'voluntary,' according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Outlaw's new role will be the Deputy Chief Security Officer at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where she will oversee the airports, bridges, tunnels and other transportation infrastructure in the New York City area.
Philly Mayor Jim Kenney, who is set to leave his post in a few months as a new mayor is sworn in, made the announcement on Tuesday. He wished Outlaw 'success in her new position and her dedication to serve the residents of Philadelphia.'
Before she took office, Philadelphia saw less than 400 homicides each year since 2007. Both 2021 and 2022 have seen more than 500 homicides across the city.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, 48, is the first Black female commissioner in the police department. She has been in the position since February 2020 and officially leaves on September 22
Before she took office, Philadelphia saw less than 400 homicides each year since 2007. Both 2021 and 2022 have seen more than 500 homicides across the city
Two Port Authority police officers are pictured in New York City. Outlaw's new role will be the Deputy Chief Security Officer for the agency
In 2020, the year Outlaw took over the police department, there were 499 homicides,
The crime data also shows that between 2007 and 2019, Philadelphia recorded between 246 to 391 homicides annually.
In 2020, when she took over, there were 499 homicides, followed by 562 in 2021 and 516 in 2022. So far in 2023, there have been nearly 300 homicides.
While violent crimes, overall, have dropped by 6 percent in 2023 from 2022, there has been a massive spike in property crimes. Cases of burglaries, retail theft and stolen cars are up more than 23 percent in 2023 compared to 2022.
There have been 17,087 stolen car reports in 2023 a 100 percent increase from the 8,312 by September 2022, according to Philadelphia police data.
The number of retail thefts has seen a spike in Philadelphia as well. There have been 12,132 cases in 2023, compared to 9,082 cases by September 2022.
Philadelphia police investigate a July 3 shooting. Outlaw said her departure is the right time citing the drop in gun violence and the city's homicide rate
Outlaw called her time at the department an 'honor and privilege to serve during Mayor Kenney's administration and alongside each member of the Philadelphia Police Department'
Outlaw called her time at the department an 'honor and privilege to serve during Mayor Kenney's administration and alongside each member of the Philadelphia Police Department.'
Before Outlaw became the commissioner for the City of Brotherly Love she worked as Chief of the Portland Police Bureau in Oregon.
She also served as deputy chief in Oakland.
The Mayor praised Outlaw - who was is the first Black female commissioner in the police department - and her team's diligence amid the crime epidemic facing the city and the nation.
'Commissioner Outlaw has worked relentlessly for three and a half years during an unprecedented era in our city and a number of crisis situations, and she deserves praise for her commitment to bring long-overdue reform to the Department after years of racism and gender discrimination prior to her appointment,' Kenney said and Fox News reported.
'As weak gun laws in Pennsylvania continue to allow illegal and legal guns to infiltrate our city, the Commissioner and her team have stayed focused on new approaches to manage the gun violence crisis,' Kenney said.
'During the Commissioner's time as leader, a record-number of guns have been recovered, clearance rates have improved and non-fatal shootings and homicides have decreased at a rate double the rate of some of the other major U.S. cities that have also seen decreases.'
He added: 'Even with these successes, we continue to face the challenge of more guns on the streets than ever – but we've been able to decrease shootings and homicides and I give the Commissioner and her team credit for making that happen.'
When Outlaw started her role
