Five active-duty Philadelphia police officers and four former officers have been criminally charged, accused of receiving improper payments from a city-funded youth boxing program, officials announced Friday. One of the former officers charged founded the program.

The officers are accused of collecting payments from the youth boxing program, "Guns Down, Gloves Up," while also receiving their regular salaries, and in some cases, while on the clock. The charges were filed by the Philadelphia District Attorney following a joint investigation by the police department's Internal Affairs Division that began in 2023.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said in a news release that the five active-duty officers were suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss. They are all fa

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