Philadelphia police officer to be fired for actions related to fatal Olney hit-and-run; victim ID'd
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia police officer will be fired for his actions related to a fatal hit-and-run crash last month in the city's Olney section.
Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Monday the officer has been suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss.
The officer has been on the force for two years. His name has not been released as an investigation into this incident continues.
Bethel identified the hit-and-run victim as 48-year-old Eugene Beauford.
The crash happened around 1:40 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, on the 5500 block of Rising Sun Avenue.
Video shows the officer stopping to assist Beauford, who had fallen on Rising Sun Avenue near the intersection with Olney Avenue.
The officer parked his vehicle to block the intersection and appeared to speak with the man.
After about a minute, the officer is seen returning to his vehicle and leaving Beauford in the street.
Less than five minutes later, a green Kia entered the bike lane to pass another vehicle and struck Beauford, who later died.
The first officer to respond to the scene was the very same one who left Beauford in the street minutes earlier, police said, adding that the officer didn't render aid and never filed a police report.
"We live by a code of ethics, and we have to be driven by that each and every day if we want to do this job properly," Bethel said. "I felt disgusted."
The Kia that struck the victim has been recovered and the driver has been located, police say.
So far, no charges have been filed as the investigation continues.
