City of Philadelphia - File #: 000684

• File #: 000684
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 11/2/2000
• In control: Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety
• Final action: 2/1/2001
• Title: Calling for a Public Hearing before the Joint Committees of Public Safety and Public Health and Human Services to investigate the untimely death of Mr. Robert Brown, a paranoid schizophrenia patient of the City of Philadelphia's Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health System.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Ortiz, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Cohen, Councilmember Clarke, Council President Verna, Councilmember Krajewski

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
2/1/2001	0	Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety	HEARING HELD
2/1/2001	0	Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety	REPORTED FAVORABLY
2/1/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	FAVORABLY RECOMMENDED; CONSIDERATION AT END OF CALENDAR
2/1/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
1/30/2001	0	Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety	HEARING HELD
1/30/2001	0	Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety	RECESSED
1/30/2001	0	Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety	HEARING NOTICES SENT
12/13/2000	0	Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety	HEARING NOTICES SENT
12/13/2000	0	Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety	HEARING NOTICES SENT
11/2/2000	0	CITY COUNCIL	Referred
11/2/2000	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Calling for a Public Hearing before the Joint Committees of Public Safety and Public Health and Human Services to investigate the untimely death of Mr. Robert Brown, a paranoid schizophrenia patient of the City of Philadelphia's Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health System.
Body
WHEREAS, Robert Brown, a 45-year-old West Philadelphia male diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was shot to death on Tuesday, July 18, 2000 at 30th Street Station by an AMTRAK Police Officer; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Brown was shot in front of Mc Donald's during the lunchtime rush where many patrons including children could have also been harmed; and

WHEREAS, Minutes prior to the shooting, AMTRAK Officers Kelly and Wahler chased Mr. Brown around 30th Street Station due to nuisance complaints; and

WHEREAS, AMTRAK Officers Kelly and Wahler had access to non-lethal weapons to try and stop Mr. Brown to ensure his safety as well as the safety of the officers and the general public; and

WHEREAS, Firearms and other fatal weapons should not be used as the first level of defense in responding to disturbance calls involving mentally ill persons in crisis; and

WHEREAS, During the chase, Mr. Brown reportedly had the presence of mind to physically pick up a small child and move it out of harm's way to prevent injury; and

WHEREAS, Officer Kelly, an 11 1/2 year veteran of the force, fired his gun, fatally wounding Mr. Brown in the abdomen; and

WHEREAS, Several retailers were familiar with Mr. Brown and his mental state and reportedly complained the day before because they noticed a change in his behavior, whereby he was becoming more aggressive; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Brown was a part of the City's Behavioral Health System, most recently an Intensive Case Management client and group therapy participant of the Consortium, A West Philadelphia Community Behavioral Health Provider; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia's Department of Health's Office of Behavioral Healt...