$4.4M settlement reached in 2014 Philadelphia police shooting
The city of Philadelphia has reached a record $4.4 million settlement, the largest shooting-related police settlement in the department’s history, over the shooting of Phil Holland.
In 2014, Holland, who worked in food delivery, had just dropped off a hamburger at someone’s home when he noticed two people approaching him. According to Holland, he didn’t realize that the two people approaching him were police officers, and he entered his vehicle on the passenger side in an attempt to hide from the approaching strangers.
When the plainclothes officers, who Holland says never identified themselves, shone a flashlight in his eyes and Holland saw a gun, he thought that he was about to be the victim of a robbery and drove off. In response, the officers fired 14 bullets into his car.
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“He was a young college student making extra money and was delivering literally a hamburger when he was gunned down by police officers who fired 14 bullets into his moving vehicle in violation of police policy,” said Holland’s attorney, Tom Kline.
Kline added that although Holland hopes to re-enroll in college soon and move on with his life after the incident, he still suffers from health complications related to the shooting, including reoccurring seizures.
In addition to the money settlement, part of the settlement includes the “Holland protocol,” which entails more training and increased awareness of the civil rights of potential suspects.
“Our police department exists to protect and serve all people who live, work in, or visit Philadelphia and greatly values your trust,” said Police Commissioner Richard Ross. “The City of Philadelphia strives to earn, maintain, and build that trust by ensuring that police act within the scope of their lawful authority and hold paramount the civil rights of those they serve.”
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