Shortly before midnight on November 7, 2020, Harrisburg Bureau of Police (HBP) Officer Brandon Hoover illegally entered the property of community activist Dr. Kimeka Campbell at her residence on the 300 block of Front St in Shipoke. Without identifying himself as a HBP officer, Hoover stated to the property owner that a noise complaint had been reported and asserted that he had the right to enter the property.
After being clearly informed by the property owner that he did not have permission to enter the property, Officer Hoover was repeatedly asked to remove himself from the homeowner's private residence. Despite the fact that the music had already been turned off and he had no further justification to pursue the complaint, Officer Hoover proceeded to escalate the situation, culminating in HBP's macing of peaceful citizens on private property and the arrest of Kimeka Campbell.
Dr. Campbell, a community health advocate and co-founder the Greater Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color, has been an ardent advocate of amending the City of Harrisburg's proposed Bill 8, a measure that would create a Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory Committee to ensure that the Harrisburg Police Bureau complies with requests for information. The effort, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, would provide the citizens of Harrisburg real oversight into police interactions with the public and offer all Harrisburg residents the public safety they deserve. It seems plausible that Dr. Campbell's role in this effort may have factored into the decision to place her under arrest on the night of November 7.
This incident has proven yet again that Black people are not safe from police violence in the City of Harrisburg. We demand transparent oversight and accountability of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police and call on Mayor Papenfuse to immediately fire Officer Hoover. We further urge the Harrisburg City Council to adopt all the amendments the Harrisburg Community Review Board Working Group has proposed to Bill 8 without delay.
We must ensure that Black people and people of color are safe from HBP aggression in the City of Harrisburg and that all Harrisburg residents can enjoy the rights they are legally afforded without fear for their personal safety.