Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross resigns after woman alleges affair, retribution
by Chris Palmer, Sean Collins Walsh, Jeremy Roebuck and David Gambacorta, Updated: August 20, 2019
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross abruptly resigned Tuesday, a day after a woman in the department claimed in a lawsuit that he ignored her claim of sexual harassment by another officer because she broke off a two-year affair with Ross in 2011.
Mayor Jim Kenney did not address that specific allegation in a news release announcing the departure. Instead, he said that Ross had not adequately responded to allegations of racial and sexual discrimination in the department that were included in an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint and subsequent lawsuit filed by Cpl. Audra McCowan the woman who alleged the affair and Patrol Officer Jennifer Allen.
I do not believe the Police Department has taken the necessary actions to address the underlying cultural issues that too often negatively impact women especially women of color, Kenney said.
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Ross did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday night.
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