Sheriff Rochelle Bilal keeps saying her office is working fine, but the facts on the ground tell another story | Editorial
The sheriff told City Council she needs a 54% funding increase, but based on her performance, what Bilal needs is to get her office in order.
Under Rochelle Bilal, the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office has been accused of being ineffective, inept, and unethical. Yet, the sheriff appeared at the City Council budget hearing recently and boldly asked for almost $55 million — a 54% increase.
“We need staffing,” Bilal said. “We need funding.”
The sheriff may believe her brazen ask is legitimate, but based on her performance, what Philadelphians need is for the sheriff to get her office in order.
One of the long-standing complaints has been the delay in issuing deeds after property auctions, which is one of the office’s primary functions; some winning bidders have waited up to a year for their purchases to be finalized.
During budget testimony, Bilal claimed any issues have been fixed, and those complaining do so in bad faith, but an Inquirer investigation found problems are ongoing, and that the sheriff’s version of events doesn’t square with the realities of glacial real estate transactions and a raft of other issues.
Sadly, Bilal is following in the footsteps of some of her predecessors in an office that good-government reformers have persistently called out for elimination. Newspaper editorials in Philadelphia have decried the continued existence of the sheriff’s office for 158 years, almost as long as they have noted the department uses its advertising budget as “a gigantic corruption and coercion fund.”
Over the years, sheriffs have been accused of political intimidation, extortion, embezzlement, and sexual harassment. But deeds were issued, properties were sold, and courtrooms were protected. With Bilal as sheriff, the department has added incompetence to the list of reasons for abolition.
Other things that haven’t gone away under Bilal are the allegations of financial mismanagement and ethical impropriety that have characterized the department.
Almost immediately after assuming office, the sheriff was sued by whistleblowers who alleged they were fired for asking questions about “off-budget” spending. Bilal issued a no-bid contract to run sheriff sales to an online auction platform. Her top deputy was fined for taking on private clients while serving the city. Under her leadership, the department has spent increasing amounts of money on things like a pop-up health clinic, food giveaways, and a new mascot. Some of these charges may violate the city’s Home Rule Charter.
While Bilal has focused on self-promotion, the core duties of her office have suffered. The city’s judges, fearing for their physical safety in the face of “systemic failures,” issued a letter ordering Bilal to adequately staff courthouses. Advocacy groups have raised the alarm about the low recovery of guns from subjects of protection-from-abuse orders.
While Council continues to show either a stunning naivete or a willful blindness regarding the sheriff — Councilmember Cindy Bass went so far as to tell Bilal the city “works because you all work” — Philadelphians cannot afford to continue to take the sheriff at her word.
One City Hall official who has some experience in holding the sheriff accountable is Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. After Bilal circumvented bidding procedures and shifted sheriff’s sales to a Maryland-based online auction company called Bid4Assets, it was then-Councilmember Parker who took the lead in questioning her.
Today’s City Council members would benefit from embracing some of the skepticism that was expressed back then by the future mayor.
Above all, however, the city must finally eliminate the office. History has shown that no matter who voters elect as sheriff, they are sure to be disappointed. Bilal is no different.
