Yesterday, Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the legacy and continued importance of independent civilian oversight of policing in Philadelphia, proclaiming June 9 as “Civilian Police Oversight Day” in the City of Philadelphia.
The resolution honors decades of advocacy and community-driven efforts to build stronger, more accountable systems of public safety in Philadelphia. It also acknowledges the historical and ongoing role of civilian oversight bodies in improving police-community relations and ensuring public trust in the city’s public safety infrastructure.
“Civilian oversight is not new to Philadelphia—but it is newly empowered,” said Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. who sponsored the resolution. “This day is about recognizing how far we’ve come and recommitting to a future where independent oversight is essential to public safety, transparency, and justice.”
Philadelphia’s first Police Review Board was created by Mayor J. Richardson Dilworth in 1958, only to be dissolved a decade later under political pressure. Over the following decades, persistent community advocacy led to the creation of the Police Advisory Commission in 1994, and ultimately to the formation of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) in 2021, after more than 500,000 Philadelphians voted in favor of police oversight reform.
The resolution traces this history, including pivotal moments such as the police killings of George Floyd and Walter Wallace Jr., as well as the City’s own response to protestors in 2020, which led to significant settlements and demands for change. In naming June 9— the official date of CPOC’s establishment—as “Civilian Police Oversight Day,” City Council is marking a permanent commitment to transparency, accountability, and community-led public safety.
Tonya McClary, Executive Director of CPOC, welcomed the resolution:
“This recognition is a powerful acknowledgment of the generations of Philadelphians—activists, families, organizers, and elected officials—who demanded accountability and pushed for justice. Civilian oversight is not anti-police; it is pro-transparency, pro-community, and essential to building trust. We are proud to carry this legacy forward and ensure every resident has a voice when it comes to policing in our city.”
The resolution also directs an official copy to be presented to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission as a symbol of the City’s commitment to the principles of independent accountability and civilian leadership in matters of police conduct.
