Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel on restoring a sense of ‘order’ to Philadelphia

By Ellie Rushing, The Philadelphia Inquirer | February 15, 2024

Board Member and former Stoneleigh Fellow Kevin Bethel spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer about his top priorities for his first year as the Philadelphia Police Department’s commissioner.

Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel inherited a city and police department at a crossroads.

High rates of gun violence. An open-air drug market that has made national headlines. An increase in nuisance crimes. An understaffed police force. Residents — and a new mayor — who want to see change.

And now he has about 55 days to draft a plan for how to address all of that.

“I’m not counting,” he said with a smile.

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Kevin Bethel, MS Stoneleigh Fellow

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The Stoneleigh Foundation was founded in 2006 by John and Chara Haas to improve the life outcomes of our community's youth. We meet our mission by awarding Fellowships to exceptional leaders who advance change in the systems that serve these young people.

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We award two types of Fellowships to exceptional individuals who work within and alongside youth-serving systems to catalyze change. Our Fellows undertake projects that enhance how systems work together, improve practice, and generate new knowledge through action-oriented research.