DiPasquale was fired from the department after the shooting death of Donta Dawson in October 1998. It is painfully clear that vindication for Dawson and his family will not be realized through our court system. DiPasquale was charged twice with voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, and twice the case was thrown out during the preliminary hearing stage. This despite a lack of testimony that Dawson was acting aggressively or threatening anyone outside the vehicle. The only way for justice to be served now is for the arbitrator to rightfully deny DiPasquale the chance to return to work as a police officer.
Police officers have a difficult job, yes.
But the honor of carrying a badge carries with it a tremendous responsibility. Police officers must be accountable to the people for their actions. In this case, actions that resulted in the death of an unarmed man. DiPasquale's tactics were reckless, excessive and in complete disregard for Dawson's rights and personal safety. Sadly, this is not the only case that calls into question conduct of the Philadelphia Police Department and its officers.