George Floyd-Era Police Watchdog Chair Charged Over Witness Name Sale

The head of Philadelphia’s publicly operated police oversight agency is accused of providing a witness’s identity to a man who allegedly threatened to “blow down” that witness in broad daylight.

Hassan Bennett, chairman of the Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission, is facing criminal charges after investigators alleged that he sold an unredacted arrest report and a witness’s name to prison inmate Thomas Scott. The information involved a domestic-violence attempted-murder case. Bennett is also employed by the Defender Association of Philadelphia.

According to a news release from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, investigators monitored prison calls in which Bennett allegedly read Scott information from the arrest report. Prosecutors said Bennett also disclosed the witness’s full name.

Officials said Scott later requested a copy of the report and offered Bennett $500. After receiving the documents, Scott allegedly shared them with multiple people in an effort “to intimidate the witness in the open case,” the district attorney’s office said.

Investigators said Scott was recorded discussing efforts to locate the witness and insisting that the person withdraw the statement given to authorities.

Scott was also allegedly recorded saying his social media posts were intended to keep the witness from appearing in court, according to officials.

Bennett became chair of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission, which was created after the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s death. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 2008 but acquitted during a 2019 retrial. At that proceeding, one victim and a co-defendant testified that a former homicide detective had coerced their earlier statements implicating Bennett.

Bennett and Scott each face felony counts of witness or victim intimidation, conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and bribery.

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Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, a spokeswoman for the National Police Association, described the case to News Media as a “cautionary tale” for municipalities across the country.

“When you are given that much access to people’s private information and you are giving that much access to inside information, the city in this case needs to be very sure that he is someone who is ethical,” Smith said. “Just because you have had a felony conviction overturned doesn’t mean that you have the ethics necessary to handle this sensitive information.”

Smith said the city should examine the commission and evaluate each of its members individually.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner called the allegations against Bennett “serious,” while emphasizing that they do not represent the work of either the Citizens Police Oversight Commission or the Defender Association of Philadelphia.

“I would like to be in a position to say that this defendant had no such involvement, but he did, and the evidence is strong,” Krasner said.

The Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission said Bennett has been placed on leave.

“We recognize the seriousness of this matter. We will respect the legal process, refrain from commenting on legal allegations that are under investigation and take appropriate steps to protect confidential information,” the commission said. “Our responsibility to the people of Philadelphia remains unchanged. We will continue our work to strengthen police accountability, promote transparency, and build public trust.”

News Media contacted Scott’s attorney for comment. Bennett was not immediately available to respond.