(SIGN ON) Statement Regarding DA Stollsteimer's Presence at 10.10.21 Demonstration at Ridley Police Department

District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer

To read a live version of this letter including fellow signers at our Medium page, click here.

Here is the full text of our letter:

Statement Regarding DA Stollsteimer’s Presence at 10.10.21 Demonstration at Ridley Police Department


On Sunday evening, demonstrators peacefully protested outside Ridley Township Police Department, after text messages revealed that the department may have purposefully failed to protect an August 2020 Black Lives Matter march from violent, racist counterprotestors. Video and photographic evidence has shown that during the demonstration on Sunday, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer visibly stood by Ridley Township Police. Demonstrators have reported that DA Stollsteimer spoke only to officers and made no effort to address the concerned public who had gathered for the demonstration. When a demonstrator questioned DA Stollsteimer on the message his presence was sending to the community, he simply responded “good.”

The District Attorney is elected to serve the entire Delaware County community. The District Attorney is not elected to exclusively serve the interests of Delaware County police. These revelations may have prompted someone else in DA Stollsteimer’s position to open an investigation into the actions of the Ridley Township Police Department. At the very least, a DA should be expected to act as a neutral public servant and not show overt favoritism to law enforcement who have been credibly accused of serious misconduct.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that DA Stollsteimer has used his position to publicly stand with officers who have committed misconduct and help to help shield them from public criticism. (See a few examples below)

Philadelphia Magazine | This Police Bodycam Video From the Kohl’s Parking Lot Incident Tells More of the Story (5/19/2020)
Chester Spirit | Delco FOP official condemned for threatening remarks; later apologized (6/9/2020)
WHYY | How unfulfilled promises of ‘21st-century policing’ are haunting Delco (9/24/2021)

This latest display of poor judgment demonstrates that DA Stollsteimer seems to not only to have forgotten the reforms he promised to bring to the office on the campaign trail, but also to have forgotten what role he was elected to fulfill. We urge DA Stollsteimer to remember his campaign promises, his oath of office, and make urgently needed steps to repair his relationship with the communities he serves.


To: District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer
From: [Your Name]

District Attorney Stollsteimer,

We, your constituents, are asking you to remain publicly committed to all stakeholders of Delaware County, including communities disparately impacted by police abuse and violence. We will continue to speak out until we see these values reflected in the office of the District Attorney of Delaware County.

Sincerely,
The undersigned individuals and community organizations, as well as the New Day Collaborative organizers