Tensions ran high during a Township Commissioner’s meeting in Lower Merion on Wednesday night after a police officer was suspended for tasing a woman during a traffic stop.
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #28 has disputed the officer’s suspension, which has caused his colleagues to appeal the decision.
The incident, which involved a 36-year-old woman who was tased by Lower Merion police officer Charles Murphy, has sparked controversy and protests by police in Montgomery County.
The NAACP has called for harsher penalties against the officer and the department, while the FOP is calling for an independent investigation.
The arrest, which was recorded by a bystander, shows the officer with his gun drawn approaching the driver who police say fled for a mile before pulling over and was uncooperative.
The officer tased the driver, who was black, and has been ordered to take a 10-day unpaid suspension.
The NAACP argues that the suspension is not enough and has called for the removal of the officer involved in the tasing incident.
The FOP president expressed concern about the retention and recruitment of officers if they feel they won’t have fair due process.
The woman involved in the incident remains upset and impacted by the events.
