Timoney to resign as head of police

Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney announced yesterday that he will step down from his post in January to take a position with a private security firm.

Timoney is expected to accept a position with New York City-based private investigation and security firm Beau Dietl and Associates. He has led the Philadelphia Police Department's 7,000-member force since 1998.

"The Mayor has been very proud of the work that Commissioner Timoney has done in Philadelphia," said Luz Cardenas, spokeswoman for Mayor John Street. "He has brought to the city some major and effective leadership of the Police Department at a time when they needed some very clear and strong leadership, and he delivered.

"Obviously, this is a big loss to the city. However, we understand that the Commissioner had an opportunity of a lifetime that he decided to take advantage of," she added.

Cardenas said that Street has set no timetable for finding Timoney's replacement, ensuring that the city will take the time to find the right candidate. First Deputy Commissioner Sylvester Johnson will serve as interim commissioner.

Timoney's "been a terrific police commissioner -- probably the best police executive in the country," said Lawrence Sherman, the Fels Center of Government director and a leading criminologist.

Timoney teaches a course at Fels in performance measurement.

Prior to coming to Philadelphia, Timoney served with the New York City Police Department for 27 years, including time as its second-in-command.

Officials at Dietl and Associates could not be reached for comment last night. The company was founded in 1985 by former New York police officer Beau Dietl. Its clients include the Republican Party, the Saudi royal family, and officials of the People's Republic of China.

Many believe that Timoney's tenure in Philadelphia was one marked by positive change, but some found fault with him as well.

When Timoney took over, his department was plagued with police officers who did not report crimes in order to keep city safety statistics low. Timoney created a 20-officer oversight committee to ensure accuracy in crime reports.

Not only did Timoney keep better track of crime, he also reduced it, with the number of shootings in the city dropping by 20 percent in his first year and a half in office.

"The city got a lot safer, and yet was able to measure its safety," Sherman said.

Other initiatives that he undertook included banning brass knuckles, prohibiting the use of prisoner transport vans without seatbelts and creating a rape oversight panel that included members of victims' advocacy groups -- an unheard-of policy.

"He was very open to the idea that the public is the boss, and more than any other police executive he has tried to do what the boss wanted," Sherman said.

Timoney maintained with his officers the same candid and open manner that he had with the public.

"I think you're going to be hard-pressed to find any of us who [are] happy to see him leave," said Sgt. Joseph Bonadonna of the PPD's University City substation, located near 40th and Chestnut streets.

But Timoney's term was not without controversy. During the 2000 Republican National Convention, many said that the PPD had arrested peaceful protesters on dubious charges only to get them off the street . Most of the charges were later dropped.

Others believe that he has not done enough to discipline officers found guilty of wrongdoings, but Sherman said that inflexible state laws and union procedures gave Timoney little room to operate as he would have always liked to in disciplinary procedures.

Timoney is the sixth senior city official to leave in Street's first two years in office. Timoney follows on the heels of City Managing Director Joseph Martz and City Solicitor Kenneth Trujillo, both of whom resigned last month to accept private sector posts with higher salaries.

"People in positions of high visibility attract a lot of attention and a lot of offers," Cardenas said about the seemingly high turnover.

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