Off-duty Philadelphia officer kills teenager

Despite seven civilian complaints investigated by Internal Affairs, including some from his neighbors, Sgt. Frank Tepper was never brought up on any charges by the Philadelphia Police Department, where he worked for 13 years. On Nov. 21 the department's inaction turned deadly when Tepper shot and killed a young neighbor, 21-year-old William Panas Jr.

Tepper, who was off-duty at the time, fatally shot Panas during a street fight in the Port Richmond neighborhood where both lived. According to area residents, the fight involving many of Tepper's relatives, including his own son, spilled out of a party at Tepper's home.

Panas and some friends were walking by and got caught up in the fight. Panas tried to break up the fight, but ended up on the ground, fighting with Tepper's son. Tepper, who witnesses reported was clearly intoxicated at the time, pointed a gun at Panas and said, "Back up or I'll shoot you." When Panas, who was unarmed and had his hands in the air, said, "No, you won't," Tepper said, "Oh no?" and fired his gun, shooting Panas in the heart. (Philadelphia Daily News, Nov. 24)

William Panas Sr. and many neighbors believe this was murder. But no charges have been filed against Tepper, who was removed from his street job with Philadelphia's Civil Affairs Unit and upgraded to administrative desk work. Tepper was seen roaming around the neighborhood until Nov. 24, when he abandoned his home. Police remain on the scene, allegedly to protect Tepper's house from his neighbors.

Meanwhile, no such protection was provided to neighbors who had reported several incidents of threats from this cop over the years.

In 2002 Tepper went in search of a teenager who allegedly bullied his 8-year-old son. Debra Spencer said Tepper used Mace on her 17-year-old son and drew his gun against him and some other youth. An Internal Affairs investigator warned Tepper against taking the law into his own hands while off-duty. (Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 25)

Donna Walker, who filed a complaint alleging Tepper choked her son during the 2002 incident, also reported a case a few years earlier when Tepper waved his gun at neighbors after one of his relatives was hit with a snowball.

In 1995 Tepper got involved in a car chase after two men allegedly taunted his fiancée. Tepper had earlier been in a bar wearing most of his uniform, in violation of department policy. A complaint filed by one of the men claimed Tepper repeatedly bumped his car and hit one of the men in the head with his gun.

In each case where Tepper was the subject of complaints, he was exonerated and the accusations were dismissed as "unfounded," even when Internal Affairs investigators described his behavior as "unprofessional" and in "direct violation of departmental policy."

Police regulations bar off-duty officers from taking action in personal disputes. Yet this is at least the fourth case in the past two years in which Philadelphia police were involved in murder or assaults while off-duty.

Attorney Alan Yatvin, in a civil suit against officers in one of these cases, presented a list of 26 cases in which Philadelphia officers abused their authority. A federal jury found that in cases of off-duty misconduct, the police department didn't properly train, investigate or discipline officers. (Philadelphia Daily News, Nov. 24)