FOP Throws Party for Reinstated Cops in Beating Case

"Our Guys Are BACK!" states the FOP's invitation

A group of Philadelphia police officers that were caught on video and viewed by the nation beating three murder suspects two years ago are coming back to the force. And the Fraternal Order of Police is throwing them a party tonight.

In a flyer called, “Our Guys are BACK!” the Philadelphia police group announces a free happy hour from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the FOP Lounge at 1336 Spring Garden tonight. There will be food, an open bar and music.

“Come on out and show your support,” the flyer states. “They’ll be happy to see you.”

But not everyone will be happy to see them, reports the Daily News. Many in the community believe a celebration for these newly reinstated police officers is in bad taste.

"This is a sad commentary; it's almost like they're rubbing the arbitrator's decision in the face of the police commissioner," Philadelphia NAACP President Jerry Mondesire told the Daily News. "The NAACP fully stands behind the police commissioner's decision. It's regrettable that they want to celebrate errant behavior by police."

The decision Mondesire is referring to is Police Commisioner Charles Ramsey’s firing of officers Patrick Gallagher, Vincent Strain, Patrick Whalen and Robert Donnelly after the kicking and beating of suspects were caught on camera by Fox29’s news helicopter.

Ramsey also demoted Sgt. Joseph Schiavone and suspended officers Jonathan Czapor, Demetrios Pittaoulis and Sean Bascom after the video, which got national attention, showed the group of police kicking and punching Pete Hopkins, Dwayne Dyches and Brian Hall at 2nd and Pike streets after a long police car chase.

The three suspects who were beaten were acquitted of the North Philly triple shooting for which they were arrested.

A grand jury cleared the police officers of any crimes and an arbitrator decided that the veteran officers should get their jobs back and said the demotion and suspension of the others was unnecessary.

The other two officers were fired have also been reinstated, according to FOP President John McNesby.

"These cops were cleared in every form," McNesby told the Daily News. "Now they're coming back to work, as they should be, so we're going to welcome them back. Jerry Mondesire needs to pull out the want ads and go find something to do."

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