Yesterday, during a preliminary hearing, a Municipal Court Judge dismissed all pending criminal charges against former Philadelphia Police Officer Mark Dial in the fatal shooting of Eddie Irizarry. This decision stunned and frustrated many residents of this city. While CPOC respects the criminal process, we acknowledge that this outcome is disappointing to community members seeking justice for officer misconduct.

The City of Philadelphia’s District Attorney’s Office has refiled the charges against Dial. We await the outcome of those proceedings. That hearing is scheduled for late October, further delaying justice and frustrating impacting families like the Irizarry’s, and fellow communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by fatal shootings at the hands of police officers both here in Philadelphia and nationwide.

Police oversight does not stop at PPD’s front door, nor does it end with the District Attorney’s criminal prosecution. Community oversight requires each of us to advocate for truth and justice to prevail. Meanwhile … the Irizarry family waits.

Apart from the criminal process, PPD must follow through on the separate administrative misconduct investigation of Dial’s conduct on August 14, 2023. Because Dial refused to give a statement, PPD suspended him with intent to dismiss him from his employment with PPD. PPD must also evaluate Dial’s conduct and use of force in accordance with PPD policy. CPOC has reviewed the evidence and has recommended that PPD terminate Dial for his conduct. We believe former Officer Mark Dial must remain … former Officer Mark Dial.

This is an opportunity for PPD and Interim Commissioner John Stanford to speak to both the community he enlisted to serve, and the officers he is charged to lead. An administrative prosecution can demonstrate PPD’s commitment to transparency and uphold disciplinary standards for all officers. Ensuring a just administrative process would show solidarity to both the thousands of officers who serve Philadelphia with distinction, as well as community members pursuing a safer or more just Philadelphia for all Philadelphians.

PPD is not alone in this charge. CPOC has both an obligation and a duty to the community to advocate for accountability and to speak truth to power, when the public feels their cries fall on deaf ears. This agency was created for moments such as this and if not now…when?

CPOC will continue to monitor this case and to advocate for a fair and transparent police disciplinary process that we can all rely on.