Editing Jim Kenney (section)

== Racial Justice and Public Safety ==

The [[2020 Racial Justice Protests]] following George Floyd's murder presented Kenney with demands for police reform and racial justice. Protesters marched through Philadelphia streets for weeks; some protests turned violent, with looting and property destruction. Kenney expressed sympathy with protesters' concerns while defending police response to violence. His administration pursued reforms including restrictions on police use of force and creation of a citizen oversight board. Critics from the left charged that reforms were inadequate; critics from the right blamed Kenney for disorder and rising crime. The murder rate, which had declined under [[Michael Nutter]], increased during Kenney's tenure, reaching levels not seen in decades.<ref name="inquirer"/>

The tension between public safety and police reform defined Kenney's final years. Rising crime—including highly publicized incidents that drew national attention—became a political liability. Kenney defended his administration's approach while acknowledging the severity of the problem. The police department faced staffing shortages as officers retired or resigned faster than replacements could be hired and trained. Philadelphia's public safety challenges at the end of Kenney's term were severe, representing unfinished business for his successor to address.<ref name="bloomberg"/>