The head of Philadelphia’s city-run police oversight commission is accused of sharing a witness’s identity and confidential case documents with a man who allegedly threatened to shoot the witness in broad daylight.
Hassan Bennett, who chairs the Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission and also works for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, faces charges in connection with an attempted-murder case involving domestic violence. Investigators say he gave prison inmate Thomas Scott the witness’s name and an unredacted arrest report.
According to the district attorney’s office, recordings of prison calls captured Bennett reading details from the report to Scott and providing the witness’s full name. Scott allegedly asked for a copy of the paperwork and offered Bennett $500. The documents were later sent to Scott, who shared them with others in an effort to intimidate the witness, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors also say Scott was recorded looking for the witness’s whereabouts and insisting that the witness withdraw his statement. In another call, he allegedly said his social media posts were intended to keep the witness from appearing in court.
Bennett took over the oversight commission, which was created following the 2020 protests after George Floyd’s death. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 2008, but acquitted at a 2019 retrial. At that trial, a victim and a co-defendant testified that a homicide detective had pressured them into making earlier statements that implicated Bennett.
Bennett and Scott face felony charges including witness or victim intimidation, conspiracy, bribery and criminal use of a communication facility.
National Police Association spokeswoman Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith called the case a cautionary example for other cities. She said officials should carefully consider whether people with access to sensitive information can be trusted to handle it ethically, adding that an overturned conviction does not, by itself, establish someone’s fitness for that responsibility. Smith also said Philadelphia should review each member of the commission individually.
District Attorney Larry Krasner described the alleged conduct as serious but said it did not reflect on the commission or the Defender Association. He said the evidence against Bennett was strong.
The commission said Bennett is on leave. In a statement, it said it would respect the legal process, avoid commenting on allegations under investigation and take steps to protect confidential information. It added that its work on police accountability, transparency and public trust would continue.
Scott’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment, and Bennett was not immediately available to respond.
