Philadelphia House Delegation thanks Commissioner Danielle M. Outlaw for her service and commitment to the residents of Philadelphia

First Deputy Commissioner John M. Stanford Jr. will step into the role of interim police commissioner

Philadelphia House Delegation    September 5, 2023 | 4:29 PM

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 5 – Members of the Philadelphia House Delegation today expressed their appreciation of the efforts of Police Commissioner Danielle M. Outlaw who stepped into the role of the police commissioner during a critical chapter in the City of Philadelphia.

“We thank Outlaw for her nearly four years of service, and we honor her as the city’s first Black woman to lead the Philadelphia Police Department,” said Rep. Morgan Cephas, chair of the delegation. “Outlaw assumed the role while we were facing turbulent times that included the pandemic lockdowns and protests over the death of George Floyd, which sparked a national wave of civil unrest. We are talking about unprecedented times,” she said.

Referring to the interim police commissioner, First Deputy Commissioner John M. Stanford Jr., Cephas pointed out that the delegation was looking forward to their collaboration during a time where reducing gun violence is a top priority as they head into the fall legislative session. Stanford has more than two decades of law enforcement experience and joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 2002.

“We are excited about the opportunity to work with Stanford in this new terrain and value his

expertise protecting public safety in our city. We are hopeful that we have found in Stanford another ally to combat the rising crime rates boosted by gun violence in Philadelphia,” Cephas said.

Outlaw’s last day as police commissioner will be Sept. 22. She is resigning her role at the Philadelphia Police Department for a new leadership position at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.