The chair of Philadelphia’s Citizens Police Oversight Commission, Hassan Bennett, has been accused of selling a witness’s name in an attempted murder case to a prison inmate, Thomas Scott, who allegedly threatened to harm the witness. Bennett, who also works at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, faces charges of witness intimidation and bribery.
Investigators discovered through prison calls that Bennett disclosed sensitive details of the case, including the witness’s full name, to Scott. Bennett allegedly accepted $500 from Scott for a copy of the arrest report. This information was reportedly shared by Scott with others to intimidate the witness from testifying.
Bennett’s involvement in this issue follows his past legal troubles; he was convicted of second-degree murder in 2008 but acquitted in a 2019 retrial after claims that previous statements implicating him were coerced by a detective.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has emphasized the gravity of the charges against Bennett but maintains they do not reflect the overall work of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. District Attorney Larry Krasner has acknowledged the strength of evidence against Bennett in this case.
“This incident should serve as a cautionary tale for other cities,” warned Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, National Police Association spokeswoman.
The Citizens Police Oversight Commission has placed Bennett on leave and has stated its commitment to maintaining police accountability, transparency, and public trust during the ongoing legal process.
Fox News Digital attempted to contact Bennett for comments but received no immediate response.
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