Editing Frank Rizzo (section)

== Police Commissioner ==

Mayor James Tate appointed Rizzo Police Commissioner in 1967, giving him command of a department facing rising crime rates and urban unrest. Rizzo's tenure as commissioner coincided with the turbulent late 1960s, including civil rights protests, anti-war demonstrations, and the 1968 riots following Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. His aggressive response to protests and tough rhetoric on crime built political support among white voters while alienating African Americans and liberals who saw police brutality and civil rights violations.<ref name="pastore"/>

The 1970 confrontation with the Black Panthers, in which police raided the organization's headquarters and members were photographed being stripped in the street, exemplified controversies during Rizzo's commissionership. Critics accused the department of systematic brutality and racial discrimination; supporters credited Rizzo with maintaining order during turbulent times. These divisions would define Rizzo's subsequent political career and legacy.<ref name="pastore"/>