Police cars park at the 22nd District headquarters on 17th Street and Montgomery Avenue. | ALLIE IPPOLITO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Former Philadelphia Police Captain Nashid Akil, five veteran officers and three former officers were charged with conspiracy and theft on Nov. 7. As the former captain of North Philadelphia’s 22nd District, Akil oversaw Temple and the surrounding area.
All nine of the officers are facing charges of conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
The active-duty officers have been suspended. The charges stem from an investigation into the misuse of funds for “Guns Down, Gloves Up,” an after-school boxing program founded by Akil.
The youth boxing program was originally awarded $392,000 as part of an antiviolence city grant initiative. $76,000 was reportedly funneled to Akil and other officers running the program. City employees are not allowed to collect city grant funds and the grant specifically stated that Akil was not to be paid for his efforts.
Akil was investigated twice for his potential abuse of city grant funds before resigning in 2023, when the department intended to fire him for an unrelated matter.
Family members of officers received portions of the funds paid to the program’s participants, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Akil turned himself in at police headquarters on Friday, Nov. 7.