4th Shooting by Private Eviction Contractor Puts Private Evictions on Hold

Two different women shot in the head and leg by eviction officers in less than 4 months

Notice of EvictionPhoto byAllan VegaonUnsplash

Did you know that 4 people have been shot by private eviction officers in 4 months?

• March – Angel Davis was shot in the head in front of her husband at the Girard Court Apartments
• July – A woman was shot in the leg

There were two other shooting incidents involving residents and a dog.

Fox 29 and WHYY have been following this story since the last shooting sparked a moratorium on evictions from private officers.

"With three shootings over a four-month period they have proven they do not have the capacity right now to conduct evictions safely," Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier said.

In March, a landlord-tenant deputy shot a 35-year-old woman in the head during an eviction in North Philadelphia. Another officer shot at a dog during another recent eviction but missed.

These incidents prompted the President Judge of Philadelphia's Municipal Court to pause all "lockouts" or evictions until landlord tenant staff receive up-to-date training on use of force and de-escalation procedures.

Instead, Philadelphia Sheriffs will continue with enforcing evictions. Some believe the training, paired with understanding and empathy, will cultivate safer eviction situations.

July 21, 2023, City Councilman Rick Krajewski was on Fox 29’s Good Day morning show and said he others are asking for:

1. Advance notice to tenants being evicted
2. Clear guidelines and training for de-escalation and proper use of force
3. More public transparency in the eviction process, and qualifications and background information of contractors and companies involved
4. Accountability around shootings during the eviction process

Right now, there isn’t any advance notice given to residents and they’re only given 10 minutes to leave their home by an armed consultant from the court.

Councilman Krajewski and Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier and other City Council, State representatives, community, and tenant rights groups demanded investigations, policy reform, more oversight and transparency in the private eviction process.

July 22, 2023, Fox 29 reported thousands of people marched on City Hall following the latest shooting and housing issues – including “deplorable living conditions”.

In a statement from The Legal Clinic for the Disabled they said:

Philadelphia's Landlord Tenant Officer, a private contractor tasked with evicting people from their homes, has discharged their firearms three times in the past four months while evicting renters. This is not acceptable, and immediate change is necessary for the safety of all. LCD stands with the Court's efforts to establish clear protocols and policies to hold the Landlord Tenant Office accountable to the public and introduce safeguards into an inherently violent and traumatic event. For people living with disabilities, the violence and trauma that come from a lockout can have longstanding health impacts, even without the involvement of firearms. We commit to working with the Courts and our policymakers to create meaningful and lasting change.

Very little is known about the private eviction process or the hired contractors, but there is a moratorium on private evictions until further notice.

I hope to report swift and positive changes in the next few weeks. Evictions are already traumatic, there has to be a way to help people transition in peace that’s safe and helps the tenants maintain some dignity.

I think there should be a coordination of services like an emergency housing team that helps the family find temporary housing and resources before the person or family is evicted.

Thank you for reading.