The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police bashed Eagles defensive back Malcolm Jenkins over an op-ed he wrote urging police reforms in the city.
Jenkins, 32, published an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer this week urging the newly elected Mayor Jim Kenney to choose a police commissioner who is outside the police union. He argued that past commissioners were unable to reform poor policing practices because they were too connected to the union.
“Nearly every time we hear a story of an officer abusing power, whether through violence or racist Facebook postings, the police union is there to defend the bad behavior,” Jenkins wrote. “We need a commissioner who isn’t in lockstep with the union and who will instead push back when the union tries to hide and justify bad behavior.”
His comments outraged the police union. In a statement posted to Twitter, the union bashed the Philadelphia Inquirer for publishing Jenkins’s commentary, calling the NFL star a “washed up football player” and noting that he is not a resident of the city.
Please Share… @john_mcnesby @FOPLodge5 pic.twitter.com/MTB8mIA31n
— FOPLodge5 (@FOPLodge5) November 19, 2019
“Hurling slurs and false allegations against police offers nothing in the way of improvement. Like other has been football players, they now do most of their running with their mouths,” Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby wrote. “This character’s ‘proposals’ would leave Philadelphia’s many crime victims as defenseless as his poor play has left his football team.”
McNesby added, “Only the Inquirer would offer Malcolm Jenkins to tackle crime, when he can’t even manage to tackle his own opponents.”
Kenney said he’d take Jenkins’s suggestions to heart, telling CBS Philadelphia, “He has every right to give us some direction and make suggestions and we’ve been listening to the community the whole time.”
Jenkins played in the NFL Pro Bowl the last two seasons. He has been on the Eagles for the last six years.
Philadelphia police have had a contentious presence in the city, even receiving jeers when trying to apprehend a gunman in August.
Kenney said he would announce his choice for the police commissioner in January and promised to be transparent as he sorts through candidates.
