By James Williams

Most people do not get excited to read government reports, but I do. As someone who knows how city offices work, I like seeing the facts written down. Reports like this help me understand what the Office is doing, what is improving, and whether some of the criticism it gets is fair. The Sheriff’s Office is one of the most watched and talked-about offices in Philadelphia, so having real information matters. I appreciate reports like this because they let me see the facts for myself, instead of only hearing information with bias at a press conference. I do appreciate the press conference, but the report gives a fuller picture.

One of the biggest changes in the report is how the Office now handles all evictions in the city. Before August 2024, it was only doing about 25 evictions each week. After the Landlord-Tenant Office closed, the Sheriff’s Office took over the whole job and boosted its work to about 144 evictions per week. That is almost six times more work. The Office also receives around 125 new eviction filings every week, so the workload continues to grow. To manage all of this, the Office added four detectives, one sergeant, one lieutenant, and more administrative workers, bringing the eviction unit to 16 sworn deputies plus support staff. These improvements are important because they help keep the process safe and fair.

The report also shares big numbers on public safety. Through joint operations and special task forces, deputies helped seize 261 guns from Domestic Violence Task Force work and another 60 illegal guns from other operations. The Office also helped remove $1.3 million worth of illegal drugs from the streets. Fugitive arrests increased by 75% after the Office launched the “Philly’s Fugitives” priority list. These numbers help show how the Office supports safety beyond evictions.

Financial reporting also includes major numbers. In 2024, the Sheriff’s Office spent $1,577,633.71 on required ads for sheriff sales and mortgage sales. These ads are legally needed to let the public know what properties are listed. Advertising brought in $226,551.63 across three accounts (LB 6000, LB 2000, and GRB 4000), while mortgage sale ads brought in more than $1.35 million. The Office also linked to 30+ citywide purchasing contracts, set up full accounts payable and receivable, and worked through a backlog of officer reimbursements. These steps show the Office trying to be more responsible with money.

Another big part of the report focuses on technology. The Office upgraded to PowerDMS, Benchmark Analytics, the Porter-Lee BEAST evidence system, and the Guardian background platform. Guardian replaced old paper booklets and lets staff check each applicant’s progress in real time. The Office also upgraded to Axon Taser 7, which includes virtual reality training, and launched a tactical drone program with four drones. The IT team improved tech setups at seven outside buildings, making the whole system stronger.

Hiring and background checks were very active. In 2024, the Office reviewed 61 applicants, with 25 passing their background checks. A second list of 89 applicants was reviewed, and 40 passed. In 2025, over 1,022 people applied for the Deputy Sheriff Recruit List, and 22 people applied for the Experience List. Out of these groups, 138 recruits passed the physical test and moved to background checks. To handle this growth, the Background Unit grew to one inspector, two sergeants, and five investigators, which is a clear improvement from years past.

Another part of the report that stood out to me was the section that explained each person’s role in the Office. Most people think the Sheriff’s Office only handles evictions or sheriff sales, but there are many jobs inside, including detectives, supervisors, warrant teams, training staff, financial teams, and community outreach workers. The report breaks down who does what, how cases are processed, and how everything connects. This helps the average person understand how the Office works day-to-day. As a political geek, I enjoy seeing things laid out this way. It makes the whole Office feel less confusing and shows how many steps go into every action.

Community outreach also had strong numbers. The Office held monthly food giveaways, monthly health pop-ups, community cookouts, and safety events. Deputies gave out hundreds of gun locks to support safe storage. Programs like Corners to Connections hosted monthly wellness and job fairs. Deputies visited schools, joined block parties, and attended neighborhood events across the year. The Office also started autism certification work and public safety education, which is important for families who need extra support during stressful moments.

As an insider, this part of the report means a lot to me. Long ago, in the 1800s, this same office helped return free Black Philadelphians who were kidnapped and taken to the South. I wrote about this in my Joseph Watson article. That history shows that the Sheriff’s Office has always had a social duty, not just a legal one. Because of that history, I wish the report had shared even more data about the autism work, because it fits the long tradition of protecting vulnerable people.

Like any government office, the Sheriff’s Office still has things to improve. But this report shows real steps forward. It gives the public a clearer look at what the Office does every day. Sharing information like this helps people understand why the Office exists and cuts through a lot of the rumors that spread around the city. When we see the facts, it becomes easier to judge the Office fairly and understand its role in keeping Philadelphia safe and supported.

For someone like me, who follows government closely, these details matter. They show where the Office is growing, where it needs more help, and how it impacts the city. If the Office keeps sharing information like this, more people will understand what it really does, and conversations about it will be based on facts instead of guesses.