'Capability To Change That Culture': Philadelphia Welcomes New Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia has ushered in a new era under Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. Outlaw arrived for her first day at work just after 5:30 a.m. Monday.
Outlaw's first day came and went mostly out of the public eye.
Seen only coming and going Monday morning, Philly's new top cop is already breaking with tradition -- there will be no public installation.
Department sources confirm talks are ongoing if Outlaw will seek to have arrest powers or if she will act strictly as an administrator.
There are also statutory requirements for carrying a firearms since Outlaw is new to the state of Pennsylvania. That will take time.
Outlaw hasn't wasted any time getting down to business and leaders in the city and at the Fraternal Order of Police are encouraged by that.
"That job, it ages you. You take a hit," FOP President John McNesby said. "Whether it's good or bad, you're the one holding the hand grenade with the pin pulled — so either you're damned if you do or damned if you don't."
McNesby is insistent in pledging his support for Outlaw.
She comes to Philadelphia after serving as chief of police of Portland, Oregon, since 2017. Prior to that, she was a deputy chief in her hometown department in Oakland, California.
Outlaw is inheriting many challenges, including a surging homicide rate. So far this year, the city has recorded 39 homicides.
In 2019, Philadelphia had almost one homicide a day, at 356 – the highest number since 2007.
Outlaw told Eyewitness News she will be spending her first day visiting a number of police districts.
"Actually just some face time, get an opportunity, like I said, to know who's out here, getting the work done, and for them to have an opportunity to see me," she said.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said Outlaw was the most qualified person to be Philadelphia police commissioner.
"She was selected because she was the most qualified person that presented herself for the job. She happened to be an African American woman and that's an added benefit from changing the culture of the police department," Kenney said. "First of all, I think women in charge of things is always a good thing and they seem to get it when men sometimes don't get it. We have some cultural issues we have to deal with in our police department that need to be addressed, sexual harassment, generally things with Facebook and all those things we've dealt with over the past couple of years, I know she has the capability to change that culture."
State Sen. Anthony Williams points to the cultural challenges facing the police force and believes it is something best tackled by an outsider.
"It is a challenging job but it should be," Williams said. "Being a police chief of a big city, in and of itself, is gonna be challenging."
Sources say the most recent acting Philadelphia commissioner, Christine Coulter, who took over for former Commissioner Richard Ross last summer, returned to her rank as deputy commissioner on Friday.
CBS3's Trang Do and Joe Holden contributed to this report.
