Kevin Bethel to serve as Philadelphia’s next police commissioner

PHILADELPHIA - Kevin Bethel, the Chief of School Safety in the School District of Philadelphia, was introduced Wednesday as the city's next police commissioner.

"For this administration and for Philadelphia, I believe that Kevin Bethel is our best choice for police commissioner," Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker said during an introductory press conference Wednesday at City Hall. 

Parker, who won the Philadelphia mayoral election earlier this month, previously told reporters she planned to name a new police commissioner by Thanksgiving. 

Bethel served over two decades in the city's Police Department, retiring as Captain and Deputy Commissioner of Patrol Operations in 2016. He was hired by the School District of Philadelphia in 2019, and has become a visible fixture focused on safety amid a gun violence crisis in the city.

"I'm a proud Philly cop, I'm proud to be a cop, we're not your enemy, we're here to serve," Bethel said. "I ask you to give us the opportunity to do that, the opportunity to serve you in this space." 

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His resume also includes a three-year stint as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Stoneleigh Foundation where he spearheaded implementation of the Philadelphia Police School Diversion Program and launched the Law Enforcement Juvenile Justice Institute.

"That stepping away took me down a road and experience that informs me more today than ever," Bethel remarked.

In tandem with leading safety and security efforts for the School District of Philadelphia for the past four years, Bethel founded the Law Enforcement Juvenile Justice Institute. The Philly-based non-profit "is among the first law enforcement-based, cross-systems and community-centered organizations in the country," according to his LinkedIn page.

Bethel lauded his time away from the department for providing him with an invaluable perspective on how gun violence is impacting Philadelphia communities, especially children. 

"I never thought I would take a job where a kid would be killed at the doorstep of a school, and understanding the impact gun violence has on our children, on our families, teachers, and communities," Bethel said.

Bethel also addressed issued like violent crime, the Kensington opioid crisis and the alarming shortage of more than 800 cops on the street.

Bethel acknowledged Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford, who has been holding the role since former Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw resigned in September. Bethel said he plans to offer Stanford a position within his administration. 

"He did a phenomenal job during a very difficult period, I could not be more proud of him and his team behind him for the work they have done," Bethel said. "Me and John are friends -- let's get that clear -- when (former Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey) mentored me, I mentored (Stanford)." 

Stanford, who was elevated to Commissioner after serving as First Deputy Commissioner under Outlaw, helped lead the department through challenging times in his short stint, including the deadly shooting of a police officer at Philadelphia International Airport and two days of looting in Philadelphia.

Bethel’s appointment won’t take effect until January, when Mayor-elect Parker begins her 4-year tenure.

The Bartram High School and Chestnut Hill College grad will inherit the 5,500-member department at a time when shootings and homicides are down more than 20 percent over last year.

Philadelphia FOP Lodge 5 President, Roosevelt Poplar released a statement Wednesday welcoming Bethel. 

 "We welcome Chief Kevin Bethel back to the best police department in America," said Poplar. "He is the right choice at the right time for our department and city and has our fullest support."

He continued, "we look forward to working shoulder-to-shoulder with incoming Commissioner Bethel to continue our important work of growing our ranks and keeping Philadelphia safe for residents and businesses looking to invest in our great city."

Popular then reassured the community regarding his confidence in Bethel. 

 "Make no mistake - the challenges are many in running one of the biggest police departments in our country, but we are confident that Commissioner Bethel is up to the task."