DA Krasner files motion to reconsider former Philly cop | Local news

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced that his office has filed a motion to reconsider the conviction of former police officer Eric Ruh for his role in the 2017 shooting death of Dennis Plowden Jr.

According to Krasner, the sentence handed down to Ruh has “caused concern and alarm” and creates space for a narrative that there are double standards in the criminal justice system.

“This sentence is a serious departure from the relaxed range of guidelines for premeditated murder,” Krasner said during a press conference Tuesday. “Such a departure seriously diminishes the gravity of the offense for which the defendant was convicted—intentionally taking the life of another person—and suggests that a different standard applies to this defendant than to other defendants.

“We respectfully ask the court to reconsider the sentence and impose a punishment on the defendant within the limits of the state standard. His conduct warranted such a punishment and it would have been a fair result.’

The plea comes after Ruh was sentenced by Common Pleas Court Judge Barbara McDermott to 11 1/2 to 23 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

During his sentencing, McDermott said that jail time would not necessarily rehabilitate Ruh and that the former officer had demonstrated decent behavior in the years leading up to the trial and sentencing.

“The only reason he’s getting prison time is because … a lesser sentence would lessen the seriousness of the crime,” McDermott said during his sentencing.

Krasner said if his petition is denied, he will appeal the decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.