BY PAUL DAVIS
Gary Capuano is a retired Philadelphia police sergeant and, like me, he is South Philly born and raised and still resides here. He is the author of “The Unofficial History of the PPD” as well as the founder of the “Retired Philly Cops” Facebook page. I reached out and asked him why he began the Facebook page.
Capuano: In March 2023, I founded the Facebook group “Retired Philly Cops” following a disagreement with a former administrator of another law enforcement page. Today, the group has grown to more than 2,000 members and includes retired police officers, their families, friends, neighbors and supporters. Unlike some groups that limit membership exclusively to retired officers, I welcome anyone who is genuinely pro-police. While I may not agree with every modern trend in policing, such as dance-offs or “Coffee with Cops” events, I believe there is value in allowing the public to see that police officers are human beings. The group provides a small window into the realities of police work and the challenges officers face on a daily basis.
What topics of discussion are featured on the Facebook page?
Capuano: Some law enforcement groups appear to steer a particular narrative by restricting comments or shutting down discussions on controversial topics. In my opinion, limiting discussion discourages open dialogue, suppresses differing viewpoints and creates a one-sided environment. Healthy online communities should encourage respectful debate and allow members to express their opinions, even when those opinions differ. Discussions should be based on facts rather than assumptions, speculation or personal agendas. Topics such as police defunding, criminal justice reform and what many perceive as a revolving-door justice system are frequently discussed within our group. More recently, active and retired officers have expressed concerns regarding pension payments and what many view as a broken disability system.
Like many organizations, the Police Department has always had its share of rumors and unofficial information. That was certainly true during my career, and I believe it remains true today. Members of our group occasionally post stories, information or rumors without knowing whether every detail is accurate. I see nothing wrong with asking fellow members for clarification or discussing the legitimacy of a rumor. Civil debate and the exchange of information are important and should be encouraged.
Why are retired Philadelphia police officers still interested in the Philadelphia Police Department and crime in Philadelphia.
Capuano: I believe retired police officers remain interested in the department for several reasons. First, our oath never truly expires. Similar to the saying in the Marine Corps, “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” many officers continue to feel a lifelong commitment to the profession. Second, retired officers remain concerned about the state of policing both locally and nationally. Unfortunately, during the final years of my career, I witnessed a decline in the camaraderie that once defined the profession. The sense of unity that many officers relied upon seemed to be fading. The loss of veteran officers through retirement, injuries, attrition, lack of manpower and departures to other agencies has contributed significantly to declining morale. Many officers feel unsupported by department leadership, despite the fact that street officers remain the backbone of any police department. The public often experiences the consequences through reduced police presence, slower responses and a diminished sense of safety and community partnership.
Would you briefly describe your police career?
Capuano: I became a Philadelphia police officer in 1997 and was assigned to the 4th District. In 2003 I was assigned to plainclothes duty and worked a burglary detail until September 2005 when I was promoted to detective and assigned to the Southwest Detective Division, where I served until December 2007. I led the Southwest Detectives Fugitive Task Force as its Officer-in-Charge. From December 2007 until January 2014, I supervised operations involving search and arrest warrants, ranging from petty theft cases to homicide investigations. I was injured in the line of duty in April 2016 and was separated from service in June 2022.
Thank you for your service and thank you for the “Retired Philly Cops” Facebook page. ••
Paul Davis’s Crime Beat column appears here each week. He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com.
