Crime
National search for Penn's new VP of Public Safety begins, following Maureen Rush’s retirement
Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli is leading the search for Rush’s replacement. While Rush acted as both Chief of Police and Vice President of DPS, the roles will now be separate positions.
Division of Public Safety updates safety guidelines as Philadelphia carjacking rate triples
More than 129 carjacking incidents have been logged in Philadelphia since the year's start, up from 43 during the same time frame in 2021, according to DPS.
Grease fire erupts at McDonald’s on 40th and Walnut streets on Thursday evening
Firefighters on the scene noted considerable amounts of smoke rising from the rear kitchen of the restaurant. The Division of Public Safety later confirmed the incident as a grease fire and deemed the situation under control.
Two men shot at 38th and Chestnut streets Monday night
Police said the two victims were in their car when the two gunmen jumped out of their car and proceeded to fire "at least 15 shots."
Penn students protest injustice and inequity
The return to in-person campus life allowed students and community members to resume gathering to demonstrate their grievances and frustrations with the University.
Man convicted of 1998 Palestra shooting allegedly defrauded COVID-19 relief programs
Kyle McLemore began planning a scheme to take advantage of COVID-19 relief programs less than a week after he was released from prison, prosecutors alleged.
Penn monitoring closely after four Ivy League universities receive bomb threats
Columbia, Cornell, and Brown universities received bomb threats over the weekend, and Yale University received one on Friday, forcing campus evacuations of several buildings.
3 crimes, 0 alerts: A look into Penn’s crime reporting system
The Clery Act of 1990 requires that colleges and universities send timely warnings to the campus community when a crime poses a serious or ongoing threat.
Victim transported to Penn Med after gun shots fired at 40th and Chestnut Streets
The suspect is a 5-foot-10 Black male of heavy build wearing all black clothing and a hooded sweatshirt.
Review of DPS recommends overhaul of Penn Police in wake of Black Lives Matter protests
The report concludes that Penn must increase transparency about the structure, funding, oversight, and activities of DPS.
Pa. State Representative elected to reform 190th district implicated in deed fraud
Amen Brown allegedly purchased a row house in the Point Breeze neighborhood in Philadelphia despite the owner of the home having been deceased for over 10 years.
1996 Penn graduate Michael Avenatti sentenced to 30 months in prison in Nike extortion case
Avenatti and lawyer Mark Geragos insisted that Nike pay them $25 million to investigate internal wrongdoings or he would expose the company's alleged misconduct at a news conference.
Penn Medicine doctor sues Pennsylvania Hospital after being stabbed by patient
Pennsylvania Hospital faces a lawsuit from a Penn Medicine doctor who alleges the hospital disregards the safety of its practicing physicians.
In this week’s crime log: Thefts from ACME and CVS, robberies, and an escaped prisoner
Penn's Division of Public Safety responded to a number of crimes between Feb. 13 and Feb. 19 including bike theft, retail theft, and robberies.
In this week's crime log: Auto theft and stolen credit cards at Panera
In this week's crime log, four thefts from Acme, a bike theft, and a confidential case of sexual offense were reported.
SEPTA will deploy social workers alongside transit police in new pilot program
The pilot program, called Serving a Vulnerable Entity, will partner social service professionals with SEPTA transit police officers to treat individuals who are struggling with poverty, addiction and mental health crises.
Philadelphia sues Pa. for better gun control after 47% increase in shooting victims
While most Penn professors and student leaders recognized the need for stricter gun control in the city, some questioned the lawsuit's ultimate effectiveness on the issue.
In this week's crime log: Trespassing at Van Pelt and Indecent Assaults on Walnut
This week's crime log is dominated by thefts and burglaries, as well as two cases of sexual assault.
Philadelphia adds behavioral health specialists to 911 dispatches in police reform effort
The city will create a triage desk to identify 911 calls involving mental health issues and offer services to those residents instead of arresting them, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported