Staff Reports
The sheriff of Philadelphia is in hot water again for spending loads of taxpayer money on some questionable items. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Sheriff Rochelle Bilal’s office shelled out a whopping $9,250 for a brand-spankin’-new mascot costume with a “Wild Western” theme. On top of that, they spent roughly $40,000 on companies to make branded knick-knacks like fidget spinners and backpacks, and dropped at least $8,000 on a fancy-pants DJ. Talk about a party on the taxpayers’ dime!
Now, hold on to your fidget spinner, because it gets even wackier. The department defended the spending by saying the mascot, Deputy Sheriff Justice, is all about stopping bullying and making friends with the kiddos. They claim it’s all about spreading love and positivity. But, come on, the only love being spread is to the companies cashing in on this “community outreach.”
Philadelphia sheriff accused of misspending funds and touting AI-generated news articles – Washington Examiner https://t.co/hG7ax2nJwR
— Melanie (@MellieMAGA) April 23, 2024
And get this, when the Philadelphia Inquirer called them out, the department hit back, calling the reporters racist, sexist, and everything but the kitchen sink. They accused the paper of not telling the “truth” and bashing the sheriff since day one. Maybe they should spend less time on mascots and more time on damage control.
But wait, there’s more! The department has been accused of losing over 200 weapons, including a whopping 185 firearms. When asked about it, they said some were traded or destroyed, but oopsie, they couldn’t provide any documentation. Sounds a bit fishy, doesn’t it? The city controller at the time couldn’t figure out what happened to the weapons, either. It’s a regular old mystery in the sheriff’s office!
And as if that’s not enough, they were caught promoting over 30 fake news articles generated by an AI. They blamed the whole fiasco on an outside consultant giving the AI talking points, but it looks like someone forgot to proofread. They’re trying to make it sound like it’s not their fault, but come on, the buck stops at the big cheese, Sheriff Bilal herself.
And to top it all off, they’ve got the audacity to ask for even more cash. They claim they need the dough for staffing and technology, but it’s starting to sound like they just want to keep the party going. Bilal’s got the nerve to ask for extra funds when her office is already under fire for losing weapons and spreading fake news.
So, saddle up, folks, because it looks like Sheriff Bilal’s Wild Western department is in for a reckoning. With a laundry list of scandals and taxpayer cash going up in smoke, it’s no wonder the Philadelphia sheriff’s office is giving folks a whole heap of trouble.
