The head of Philadelphia’s civilian police oversight agency is accused of providing a witness’ identity in an attempted-murder case to a prison inmate who allegedly threatened to “blow down” the witness “in broad daylight.”
Hassan Bennett, chair of the Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission, has been charged after investigators said he sold Thomas Scott an unredacted arrest report and the name of a witness in a domestic-violence-related attempted murder case. Scott allegedly threatened to kill the witness. Bennett is also employed by the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
According to a news release from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, investigators monitored calls from the prison and heard Bennett relay information from the arrest report to Scott. Bennett allegedly also disclosed the witness’ complete name.
Prosecutors say Philadelphia police oversight chair Hassan Bennett gave prison inmate Thomas Scott sensitive information from an attempted-murder case, including the full name of a witness. (Citizens Police Oversight Commission)
Authorities said Scott later asked Bennett to send him a copy of the report and offered him $500. The paperwork was allegedly delivered to Scott, who then distributed it to several others “in order to intimidate the witness in the open case,” prosecutors said.
The District Attorney’s Office said recorded conversations captured Scott saying he was trying to locate the witness and wanted the person to withdraw the statement given to investigators.
Scott was also allegedly recorded saying that his social media posts were intended to keep the witness from appearing in court, officials said.
Bennett became chair of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission, which was created following the 2020 protests after George Floyd’s death. His criminal history includes a 2008 second-degree murder conviction. He was acquitted during a 2019 retrial after one of the victims and a co-defendant testified that a former homicide detective had coerced their earlier statements implicating him.
Prosecutors accuse Hassan Bennett, chair of Philadelphia’s Citizens Police Oversight Commission, of selling an unredacted arrest report and a witness’ identity to inmate Thomas Scott. (Citizens Police Oversight Commission)
Bennett and Scott are each facing felony counts of witness or victim intimidation, conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and bribery.
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Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, a spokeswoman for the National Police Association, described the case to News Outlet as a “cautionary tale” for municipalities nationwide.
“When someone is given that level of access to private and confidential information, a city must be certain that person has the ethics required to handle it,” Smith said. “The fact that a felony conviction was overturned does not, by itself, establish that someone is fit to manage highly sensitive information.”
Smith said Philadelphia should also review the commission’s membership individually.
District Attorney Larry Krasner said the allegations against Bennett are “serious,” while emphasizing that they do not represent the work of either the Citizens Police Oversight Commission or the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner speaks during a news conference on Dec. 30, 2019, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)
“I would prefer to say this defendant had no involvement, but he did, and the evidence is strong,” Krasner said.
The Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission said in a statement that Bennett has been placed on leave.
“We understand the seriousness of this matter. We will allow the legal process to proceed, avoid commenting on allegations that remain under investigation and take necessary measures to safeguard confidential information,” the commission said. “Our commitment to Philadelphia residents remains unchanged. We will continue working to improve police accountability, advance transparency and strengthen public trust.”
News Outlet contacted Scott’s attorney for comment. Bennett was not immediately available to respond.
