PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayoral candidates Cherelle Parker and David Oh generally agree that more police are key to fighting Philadelphia’s violent crime problem — but slight differences became evident in their one and only face-to-face appearance before the Nov. 7 election, hosted at KYW Newsradio’s studios on Thursday morning.
Parker distinguished herself in the Democratic primary by being the toughest on crime and she has not backed away from that in the general election.
“I will not be afraid to make the tough decisions needed to bring order back to our city,” she said.
Oh, a Republican, is equally outspoken on enlarging the police force and increasing enforcement, but he draws the line at allowing officers to stop people on the street whom they suspect of illegal activity.
“The reason Terry stops, or stop-and-frisk, does not produce results is because it’s used to harass and bully people,” he said.
Parker said she would fire any officer who abused the practice.
Both agreed that even low-level crimes need to be prosecuted but outlined different ways to persuade the district attorney to do so. Oh said he’d use the D.A.’s budget, which is set by the mayor and City Council, and might turn to the federal or state government — “I will look at deputizing my own attorneys under concurrent jurisdiction.”
Parker had her own ideas about how to apply pressure.
“Every arrest for retail theft and other illegal behavior, we’re going to present to the public. It will decide whether each entity is doing what it should do.”
Parker softened somewhat previous remarks about using the National Guard to police Kensington, saying the Guard would be part of a "a comprehensive approach that also focuses on long-term care, treatment and housing."