Police Commissioner on ICE, Plunging Murder Rate & Future of the Philly Police
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel is running Philly’s police department as ICE descends on cities across the country, leading to conflict between federal law enforcement officers, immigrant communities, and protesters. We get Bethel’s perspective on the role of the Philadelphia police department when it comes to ICE. Host Trenae Nuri also asks about the city’s 2025 murder rate, which was the lowest since 1966. And in the second part of the show we bring in David Zega, the executive director for strategy for the department, to talk about the new and unprecedented five-year strategic plan for the Philadelphia Police Department. The public comment period for the strategic plan, which you can read here, ends Feb. 11.
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