Police Staff Inspector Joseph Bologna turned himself in on Monday morning at Northeast Detectives on aggravated assault charges.
Earlier, he arrived at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 to meet with union president John McNesby and attorney Fred Perri.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the FOP to support Bologna. They applauded as he walked down the steps into a car to take the trip to the detectives division. Many wore pro-police shirts, including ones calling Mayor Jim Kenney a “crumb bum” for removing the statue of former Mayor Frank L. Rizzo.
Afterward, McNesby issued the following statement:
“We will vigorously defend Inspector Bologna against these baseless allegations and charges. We look forward to the day that Bologna is exonerated and cleared for duty. This latest rush to judgment by District Attorney Larry Krasner clearly illustrates his anti-law-enforcement agenda in Philadelphia. Our union and police officers will not stand by and watch Inspector Bologna get railroaded by a politically opportunistic DA who has turned his back on Philadelphia police and the city. This is a very sad day for the Philadelphia Police Department as one of our most decorated officers was formally arraigned on felony assault charges for doing his job, trying to keep our great city safe during recent unrest. Inspector Bologna has dedicated his 30-year professional career to serving his city with distinction and working alongside many officers in the best police department in the country. We ask you to reserve judgment until all the facts are gathered and presented in this case.”
Krasner said cell phone video shows Bologna hitting a Temple University student in the back of the head with a metal baton during a mass demonstration on June 1 near 24th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway protesting the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police.
The student was arrested, but Krasner declined to prosecute after watching the video.
Bologna faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.
Krasner encourages people to call his Special Investigations Unit to report complaints, criminal activity and misconduct by public officials, including law enforcement.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw released a statement saying an internal affairs investigation of Bologna is ongoing. ••
