The Board of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) voted unanimously to remove Rosaura Torres Thomas from her seat on the Commission after being presented the findings of an internal investigation.
Philadelphia Code grants the Board the power to remove a person from the Board by resolution, when there is cause to do so. “Cause for removal includes, but is not limited to, misconduct, inability or failure to perform required duties or obligations, post-appointment conviction for a felony, or a substantial violation of City or Commonwealth ethics laws.” Phila. Code § 21-1203(7).
The Board of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission resolved that:
- Commissioner Thomas provided confidential information and materials to third parties who were not entitled to that information. As such, she has demonstrated that she is unable or has failed to perform her required duties and obligations of a member of this Board.
- Commissioner Thomas has an ongoing, undisclosed relationship with Philadelphia residents who have lengthy histories of harassing and demeaning CPOC staff. Commissioner Thomas has lied about these relationships and maintained them in contradiction to legal advice.
- Commissioner Thomas’s refusal to explain her conduct or participate in the internal investigation is misconduct in itself.
Public details of the investigation were shared during a public meeting, which can be found on CPOC’s YouTube channel in the next 24 hours.
“After careful review of the findings from the internal investigation, the Board has made the difficult decision to remove Commissioner Thomas. The role of a commissioner is one of significant trust, and our commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity must always remain paramount,” said Interim Chair Hassan Bennett. “This decision was not made lightly. It reflects our unwavering responsibility to uphold the public’s confidence in the Citizens Police Oversight Commission and its mission to foster accountability and build trust between the community and law enforcement.”
The investigation arose from allegations that Commissioner Thomas had improperly handled confidential information outside the agency. This investigation is not related to an incident from 2023, which was referred to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in an abundance of caution. The OIG cleared CPOC staff from any wrongdoing, which was publicly announced in November 2023.
“At CPOC, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that Philadelphia’s police force, and Philadelphia’s oversight agency are held to the highest standards, and that the voices of our community members are heard and respected,” said Bennett. “We are excited that Councilman Curtis Jones’ office, along with Mayor Parker, have formed a Selection Panel, which is actively reviewing and interviewing applicants to fill the vacancies on our Board.”
The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) is dedicated to fostering accountability and building trust between the community and the police. Through oversight, auditing and monitoring, policy recommendations, and community engagement, CPOC strives to ensure that law enforcement practices are fair, transparent, and respectful of civil rights. For more information about CPOC and its initiatives, please visit www.phila.gov/CPOC.