Official Press Statement from The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office Regarding the Erroneous Reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News – April 22, 2024

On April 22, 2024, William Bender and Ryan Briggs of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote an article about the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office stating inaccurate information once again.

To begin, the “public funds” the Inquirer speaks of are not funds generated by taxpayer dollars. In fact, the amount the Sheriff’s Office is allowed to charge is set by City Council and generated as a result of services the Sheriff’s Office provides, such as service of process.

Further, the funds generated in the Cost Operations Payable account cannot be used to pay deputies’ salaries, those must be funded through appropriations and the budget. The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office stands by its requests made at the April 17, 2024, budget hearing regarding the Office being grossly underfunded. We are requesting additional funding for staffing, technology, and other costs required to perform our law enforcement and statutory responsibilities.

Like other government agencies, the Office makes purchases consistent with its mission to serve the community, goals, and law enforcement duties. Ryan Briggs and William Bender talk about the Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach Team and the Sheriff’s Office spending for tents (which are utilized to protect staff and community members during events that occur in inclement weather), DJs (who are hired to enhance Office morale at promotional ceremonies for deputies who tirelessly serve the community), and resources that help inform and educate the community about Sheriff Sales, the foreclosure process, programs centered around saving one’s home and upcoming events (food giveaways, coat-drives, etc.).

Lastly, our mascot, Deputy Sheriff Justice, is a community outreach initiative designed to counteract bullying and reach school-age children in a more comprehensive and engaging way. It encourages them to love themselves, and each other, and build positive relationships with law enforcement.

The constant bashing of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office and the character of Sheriff Rochelle Bilal since the day Sheriff Rochelle Bilal took Office must stop.

As a community, we must start holding this media outlet and scandalous reporters like Briggs and Bender accountable for their slanderous misrepresentations. On February 16, 2022, the Philadelphia Inquirer pledged to become an anti-racist organization. Instead, they have become a racist, sexist, anti-community, and libelous organization that fails to investigate or publish the truth of any matter regarding this Office. They have not upheld their pledge made to members of this community two years ago, allowing reporters Ryan Briggs and William Bender to constantly attempt to hinder the progressive and reformative work of this Office led by an African American woman.

Written by The Office of the Sheriff, City, and County of Philadelphia

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