PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker named two more officials to her incoming administration at City Hall on Thursday morning, ahead of her Jan. 2 inauguration.
Parker named Adam Geer to the newly-created position of chief public safety director. Geer currently serves as the city’s deputy inspector general for public safety and was a former assistant district attorney. The new position was devised following the social justice protests of summer 2020 and was approved by voters last year.
In his new role, Geer will report directly to the mayor and coordinate city services to improve safety, including how the city responds to crime. “I've already worked on a policy as deputy inspector general that looks at crime scene cleanup to beautification,” he said, “which we know reduces violent crime.”
It’s not yet known whether he’ll oversee incoming Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. “We will talk a little bit more about that very soon,” said Parker, “after we are sworn in.” However, she did say the chief public safety director isn't meant to get in the police commissioner's way.
“When the two work together, when it's done appropriately, they are partners,” Parker said.
The mayor-elect also selected Craig Murphy as acting fire commissioner, following her appointment of current Commissioner Adam Thiel as the city’s managing director. Murphy is a 36-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, and has served as Thiel’s 1st deputy commissioner since 2021.
“This was not a difficult decision,” he told reporters. “When Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker asks you to serve, there's only one answer: yes.”
Parker will be sworn in on Tuesday. She tells press she’ll have more details about her planned changes to the city’s management structure after her inauguration.