May 29, 2015
If there were any plans to have the six former Philadelphia police officers acquitted in a corruption trial be a part of the 61st annual Hero Thrill Show parade scheduled for Oct. 10, they have been scrapped, according to event president and CEO James J. Binns.
Binns told PhillyVoice Friday in no uncertain terms that the officers will not be a part of the parade, but declined to discuss the issue further.
"They will not be part of the parade," Binns said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Broad Street parade to honor six acquitted police officers
Earlier, Binns had suggested to BigTrial.com, an online legal news site, that the officers – Thomas Liciardello, Brian Reynolds, Michael Spicer, John Speiser, Linwood Norman and Perry Betts – would serve as grand marshals of the "Heroes Parade," riding with their families in six white Bentley convertibles down Broad Street. Previous grand marshals have included "Rocky" actors Sylvester Stallone and Burt Young, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.
Former Philadelphia officers, clockwise from top left, Thomas Liciardello, Brian Reynolds, Michael Spicer, John Speiser, Linwood Norman and Perry Betts. (Source: Philadelphia Police Department / AP)
The decision to include the officers, who were cleared of all 47 charges contained in a 26-count federal RICO indictment, including racketeering, robbery and kidnapping, drew immediate condemnation from some in law enforcement, including First Assistant District Attorney Ed McCann.
A not guilty verdict means the prosecution didn't prove its case. Doesn't mean you are innocent or owed an apology and parade in your honor
— Ed McCann (@edfmccann) May 28, 2015
According to BigTrial.com, the decision to honor the ex-narcotics officers – all of whom were fired by Commissioner Charles Ramsey after the indictments were handed down – was made by Binns, below, the lawyer who defended Spicer, the only defendant to take the stand.
The Hero Thrill Show raises money for college scholarships for sons and daughters of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
In order for the narcotics officers to return to duty, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has said that they would have to go through arbitration.
The October parade is set to begin at City Hall and end at the Wells Fargo Center, the site of the thrill show. Last year's event attracted 50,000 people.
In its 60-year history, the Hero Thrill Show has been produced by several organizations and drawn the participation of mounted police, K-9 and SWAT units, bomb squad members, Homeland Security, and personnel from across the Fire Department.
