Vol. 73/No. 50      December 28, 2009

Militant/John Staggs

March in Philadelphia to demand justice for William “Billy” Panas, gunned down by off-duty cop.

While attempting to break up a brawl in front of a house opposite a community playground, William “Billy” Panas, Jr., was gunned down by Frank Tepper, an out-of-uniform and off-duty cop. The fight began in Tepper’s home, spilling out onto the street as Panas walked by. Panas was shot in full view of witnesses. Some reported the cop appeared to be intoxicated and pointed his gun at everyone before shooting Panas.

The “Justice for Billy” neighborhood march, organized by the Panas family, friends, and residents, is part of the campaign calling for the cop’s arrest and prosecution. Appealing for broad support for their demands, the family encourages wearing orange ribbons or T-shirts. The majority of 200 marchers wore the color. Many of the porches and windows displayed orange ribbons as the demonstration passed by.

“I will get justice for my boy. I will not stop,” William Panas, Sr., told the crowd as he led the procession. “Thank you for your support.”

Drivers blew their horns and waved as the chanting demonstrators demanded: “We want justice!”; “Jail Tepper!”; and “Lock him up!”

District Attorney Lynne Abraham and chief cop Charles Ramsey refuse to charge Tepper, who claims he was threatened. The cop has been reassigned to a desk job pending an internal and special grand jury investigation. His regular duty is on the Civil Affairs Unit, a squad that polices demonstrations and labor disputes, among other tasks.

Many in the neighborhood have filed complaints about Tepper’s behavior for years. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, these include the cop macing a group of youth he believed had harassed his son. An Internal Affairs report said the boys had not teased his son. In 1995 Tepper chased two men down with his car after he had been drinking in a bar. The complaint to Internal Affairs said he reached into the men's car and beat one of them with his pistol. Tepper has been cleared of charges in most cases, reported the Inquirer.

Supporters of the Panas family set up a memorial at the site of the crime. A 24-hour police car is stationed in front of the cop’s house for his "protection."

Participants in the march told the Militant that some of the young witnesses are being escorted during their daily routines in response to reports of intimidation by Tepper’s friends.

“Since we were 12 years old,” David Florek explained, “He [Tepper] threatened kids” in the playground opposite his house. Florek, a Community College of Philadelphia student, was with Panas moments before he was killed. He vowed to “keep coming out ’til the cop is in jail.”

Panas’s death adds to a history of police brutality and killings. In May last year, 15 cops were caught by TV news cameras beating three Black men as their captain watched.

In July a homeless man was killed during an early morning roundup near City Hall by two cops claiming he threatened them with a box cutter. Another homeless victim was shot to death in a city park.

The cops have killed more than 13 people during this year.

Brian Nevins contributed to this article.  
 
 
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