PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker has reportedly chosen her new police commissioner.
While Parker is expected to name her new commissioner Wednesday morning, law enforcement sources say School District of Philadelphia Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel is Parker’s choice for the post. Parker had previously promised to announce her new commissioner before Thanksgiving.
Bethel will take over for John Stanford, who assumed the role of commissioner after Danielle Outlaw resigned in September to become the deputy chief security officer for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Before joining the school district, the 60-year-old Bethel was a 29-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department. He also served as deputy police commissioner under Charles Ramsey from 2008 to 2015, in charge of patrol operations.
Neither Parker’s office or the school district have commented at this time. One of Parker’s main campaign promises was to make city streets safer. Days after her election, Parker said the new commissioner would need cultural competency and familiarity with the city, citing advice she received from Sharon Weston Broome, mayor-president of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.