Editing 2020 Racial Justice Protests (section)

== Police Response ==

The Philadelphia Police Department's response to protests generated controversy that persisted long after the protests ended. Officers used tear gas and other crowd control measures against protesters, including on I-676 where trapped demonstrators had no escape route. Some officers were filmed using excessive force against protesters; the department subsequently disciplined officers for misconduct. The Inspector General's report on protest response documented numerous problems including inadequate planning, poor communication, and inappropriate use of force. The response illustrated tensions between crowd control and constitutional rights that police departments nationwide struggled to balance.<ref name="leblanc"/>

The protests accelerated police reform efforts. City Council passed legislation restricting police use of force, limiting chokeholds and requiring officers to intervene when colleagues used excessive force. The police contract was renegotiated to include additional accountability measures. A Citizen Police Oversight Commission was established with authority to investigate complaints. These reforms represented progress, though activists argued they were insufficient and enforcement remained uncertain. The relationship between police and communities, particularly minority communities, remained strained as the city grappled with both reform demands and rising crime.<ref name="taylor"/>