BY JESSIE LUDLOW

PHILADELPHIA - In a major exposure of police brutality and corruption, five Philadelphia police officers have been given sentences ranging from 10 months to 13 years in prison. They were convicted of theft, illegal searches, and false arrests.

The investigation has resulted in a review of 1,800 arrests involving the five cops. So far, 116 criminal convictions have been overturned and civil suits totaling millions of dollars in claims have been filed.

John Baird, a 14-year police veteran, was sentenced April 15 to 13 years without parole, almost twice what federal prosecutors recommended. Baird pleaded guilty to beating, framing and robbing civilians.

The recent exposures of police criminal conduct began in February 1995 with the indictment of the five former officers from North Philadelphia's 39th District on charges that they stole $100,000 from people, most of whom were arrested with bogus warrants.

Last August, a sixth former 39th District cop pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to five years in prison. On April 3 of this year four more officers were indicted on corruption charges, two from the 25th District and two from the Highway Patrol. All four cops were accused of stealing $28,000 and are awaiting trial.

One of the many ongoing cases against police brutality in this city is that of Moises DeJesus, a 30-year-old tow truck driver. DeJesus was killed as a result of being beaten by police near his North Philadelphia home. Testimony by numerous neighbors and family members who witnessed the beating contradicts the story being told by the cops.

As a result of community outrage, the Police Advisory Commission determined on Dec. 22, 1995, that the cops lied about their assault on DeJesus.

The commission recommended that the six officers be suspended for 15-30 days each and that Police Commissioner Richard Neal respond within 30 days. On April 29 Neal suspended eight cops for 10 days, not for beating DeJesus but for "lack of candor" about the beating.

The city administration paid $20 million over the previous 28 months to resolve more than 225 lawsuits against police misconduct.

The April 21, 1996 Philadelphia Inquirer reported that from 1990 to 1995, the Philadelphia Police Department fired 82 officers it found had committed robbery, rape, extortion, drug trafficking, and other offenses. One was convicted of murder. Of the 82 cops, city records show that 79 consistently received top ratings until the time they were dismissed, including the murderer.

Meanwhile, testimony is proceeding in a civil suit against the city and former police and fire commissioners for the May 13, 1985 assault on a house belonging to the organization MOVE.

On that day, police riddled the house with more than 10,000 bullet rounds. They then dropped a bomb on the residence, that started a fire that killed 11 individuals, including five children.

While police and firefighters stood by and watched, 61 houses were consumed, 250 residents were left homeless, and a city block was destroyed by the flames.

Ramona Africa, the sole adult survivor, and relatives of two slain MOVE members are seeking monetary damages for the assault. Former Philadelphia mayor Wilson Goode testified the first day, stating he approved the use of an explosive, but never knew it was a bomb. The trial is expected to last several weeks.  
 
 
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