Page 5 - AT

A5
U.S. NEWS Friday 25 OctOber 2019

$ 10

Report: Philadelphia inspector facing sex assault charges

By MARYCLAIRE DALE sion," the office said in a tem is broken and must be
Associated Press statement. "The grand jury fixed."
A Philadelphia police in- alleges that PPD culture dis- City Controller Rebecca
spector is facing charges courages reporting a fellow Rhynhart issued a scathing
he sexually assaulted three officer, especially a boss." report last year that found
female officers, the latest Holmes surrendered to sexual harassment policies
development in a depart- police Thursday morning, in city government convo-
ment plagued by sexual was suspended and was luted, inconsistent and inef-
misconduct allegations expected to be arraigned fective. Mayor Jim Kenney
that fueled the police com- later in the day. It was not updated city policies and
missioner's recent resigna- clear if he had retained a promised improvements.
tion. lawyer. However, in August, he re-
A grand jury probe de- Carol Tracy, executive di- luctantly accepted the res-
termined that Inspector rector of the Women's Law ignation of popular Police
Carl Holmes, 54, abused Center, which has pushed Commissioner Richard Ross,
his power after mentor- to reform the way Phila- conceding that he had
ing female officers at the delphia police classify and not attacked the problem
police academy and in investigate sex assault cas- quickly enough. This undated photo from the Philadelphia Police Department
other roles, District Attorney es, said the alleged crimes Ross resigned amid alle- shows Philadelphia Police inspector Carl Holmes.
Larry Krasner's office an- against the department's gations that he had failed Associated Press
nounced. own officers amount to "in- to investigate Cpl. Audra to tamper with pumped ficer has said publicly that
The charges come two stitutional betrayal.""Sexual McCowan's sexual harass- breast milk, have filed a Holmes sexually assaulted
years after the city settled assault and harassment are ment claims against anoth- federal lawsuit against her in 2008. He has previ-
a female detective's sexual awful in any workplace, but er supervisor because he the city. Their lawyer, Ian ously denied those allega-
harassment lawsuit involv- its impact in law enforce- had once dated her. Mc- Bryson, said he hoped the tions.
ing Holmes for $1.25 million. ment — like the military Cowan, a 15-year veteran, arrest Thursday "is the mark It was not known if the
"According to the present- — can be far more severe resigned this month rather of continued progress for charges filed Thursday in-
ment, Holmes' position as because rank provides op- than return from a stress- women in the Philadelphia volve those same accusers.
a high-ranking officer at portunity to retaliate," Tracy related medical leave, say- Police Department."? Mike Neilon, a spokesman
PPD insulated him from any said. "That the police de- ing she felt ostracized and Holmes has at least twice for the Philadelphia police
meaningful investigation; partment protected and feared further retaliation. before been accused of union, said the union would
all three of the young fe- even promoted abusers in She and a female col- sexual assault by female of- not be providing Holmes
male police officers were spite of credible complaints league, who alleged un- ficers. Besides the woman with legal counsel. The
subjected to investigations is inexcusable. Clearly the wanted touching, verbal involved in the 2017 settle- union otherwise declined
by the Internal Affairs Divi- internal accountability sys- harassment and efforts ment, another female of- to comment.q
No deal, more fallout in week-long Chicago teacher strike

CHICAGO (AP) — Classes Thursday, as the parent of does not have a strike fund
will be canceled again Fri- a sophomore cross coun- to partially compensate
day after Chicago Public try team member filed a members who are on the
Schools and the teach- request for a temporary picket lines. The American
ers' union failed to reach restraining order in Cook Federation of Teachers has
a deal to end a week-long County Court to allow the started a "strike solidarity
strike in the nation's third- Jones College Prep team fund" for people who want
largest school district. Both to compete in state play- to donate to help teachers.
sides said Thursday they've offs this weekend. Kevin The union wants CPS to put
made progress at the bar- Sterling, who is an attorney, in writing a commitment to
gaining table but disagree- said some athletes had col- smaller class sizes, which
ments remain on big issues lege scholarships on the teachers say currently ex-
, such as class sizes and line, and that the kids had ceed 30 or 40 students in
staffing. Among those feel- become "collateral dam- some schools, and to staff
ing the fallout are student- age" in the dispute be- each school with a nurse,
athletes, who under state tween CPS and the union. librarian and social worker.
rules may not be allowed Teachers and other staff CPS says it's taken steps to-
to participate in upcoming also say they're feeling the ward meeting those goals Thousands of striking Chicago Teachers Union and their
state competitions in cross financial pinch of not re- but has a responsibility to supporters march at City Hall before Mayor Lori Lightfoot was
country, football and other ceiving wages for the time taxpayers and students to scheduled to deliver her first budget address during the monthly
sports if the strike continues. they are not in school. Un- ensure the district is finan- Chicago City Council meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019.
Associated Press
That prompted legal action like some other unions, CTU cially stable. q