Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
Every Sunday, Mike Newall brings you an inside look at a story defining Philly this week and a preview of what\u2019s coming in the week ahead.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Philadelphia will grieve fallen Officer Shane Seiber, fatally shot while responding to a call in West Philadelphia<\/a>. The 40-year-old, who leaves behind a wife and two young children, will be mourned according to the rituals and militarylike precision of how the Philadelphia Police Department<\/a> has buried its dead for generations \u2014 in solemn funerals attended by hushed tides of blue.<\/p>\n But beneath the silence simmers the recriminations of who is to blame. Embattled<\/a> District Attorney Larry Krasner<\/a> made sure of it.<\/p>\n Disregarding a bit of unwritten decorum \u2014 assigning blame while a family freshly grieves \u2014 Krasner seemed to be chomping at the bit to point the finger. In a surreal, self-recorded YouTube video<\/a>, Krasner declared that Eric Lewis<\/a> \u2014 the water department employee accused of killing Seiber and severely wounding another officer \u2014 was free to commit his crimes because of the \u201carguably criminal\u201d actions of two police officers. Krasner vehemently defended the actions of his prosecutors during a calamitously mishandled 2023 murder trial against Lewis. <\/p>\n But Krasner\u2019s blistering broadside raises critical questions about his own office\u2019s conduct in a train wreck of a murder trial and sets up a likely looming battle between a district attorney\u2019s office and police department with an already rocky relationship. <\/p>\n Krasner had a bad summer, from a Supreme Court scolding<\/a> to a potential federal probe into his own possible crimes. Now he\u2019s in a street fight with the cops. While ignoring questions regarding his own office\u2019s possible culpability<\/a>, Krasner has since suggested a possible inquiry into \u201cpolice misconduct.\u201d The records in the 2023 case are now sealed.<\/p>\n Ellie Rushing, who covers criminal justice and law enforcement for the Inquirer, has been reporting on both the police and the district\u2019s attorney\u2019s office\u2019s handling of the case. She\u2019s here to update us on her reporting and tell us where the tragic story might be headed. <\/p>\n Mike: What are the questions that need answering?<\/p>\n Ellie: There were obvious issues with both the police investigation and the prosecutorial strategy. Our questions, from conversations with experts and other prosecutors, are:<\/p>\n Is the police department conducting a review of the homicide detective\u2019s other cases?<\/p>\n Did the internal affairs investigation conclude that crimes were committed?<\/p>\n When did the D.A.\u2018s office become aware of these alleged crimes that police may have made in this case? And did they investigate then?<\/p>\n Part of a prosecutor\u2019s job is to oversee the homicide investigation. What sort of prep work was done in this case?<\/p>\n And if this case had such glaring weaknesses, why was it brought to trial?<\/p>\n Mike: This looks like it\u2019s going to get ugly.<\/p>\n Ellie: We\u2019ll see what Police Commissioner Bethel has to say after the funeral.<\/p>\n Data deep dive<\/p>\n Urban birding across Philly and its burbs is soaring, reports my colleague Frank Kummer. Residual COVID-19 isolation. Campus clubs. A thicket of nature apps. Whatever the reasons, Philly is cuckoo for birds, and I love it (even if my knowledge ends at the differences between a penguin and pigeon). Philly may have more birding activity and research than anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, one expert told Kummer. Beat it, Colombia<\/a>. Go (Philly) Birds!<\/p>\n With peak fall migration upon us, here are the best regional spots<\/a> to watch everything from songbirds and sparrows to warblers and raptors.<\/p>\n Video of the Week<\/p>\n The Museum of the American Revolution is far from done commemorating the 250th birthday of America.<\/a> Tipping my Tricorne hat to their hilarious Revolutionary Rocky spoof.<\/a> Yo Adrian: Huzzah!<\/p>\n A look ahead<\/p>\n One more thing<\/p>\n Lovers of Tofani doors: Check out South Fellini\u2019s love letter to the fading jewels of South Philly Atomic Age design: Doors of South Philly: A Collection of Tofani Doors<\/a>. The book offers a stunning visual celebration of the iconic, mid-century doors adorned with dazzling glasswork patterned in starbursts, keyhole, heart, and diamond shapes that still dot South Philly rowhouses.<\/p>\n Tony Trov and Johnny Zito, co-founders of South Fellini, the East Passyunk<\/a> Avenue culture and lifestyle shop<\/a>, have been photographing and collecting disregarded Tofani doors for a decade<\/a>. The books offer over a 100 photos of their favorites and a deep dive into the local family business that made the doors almost a century ago.<\/p>\n When my wife and I bought our South Philly rowhouse we immediately fell in love with our Tofani door \u2014 a Gal\u00e1pagos-blue beauty with beveled windows in the shape of Wolverine claws. For us, the door brought character and style \u2014 a sense of history and place. The way the razor-blade shaped windows throw light and shadows. The door\u2019s deep thud. Like the book says, a Tofani door \u201cturns any rowhouse into a rowhome.\u201d<\/p>\n