In 1988, Philadelphia County convened a grand jury to consider criminal charges against city officials. The grand jury reviewed the Commission’s findings, heard additional testimony, and examined whether officials’ actions rose to the level of criminality. Their conclusion: no indictments. However, and this is crucial—the grand jury issued a scathing presentment describing the events as “an epic of governmental incompetence” and evidence of “political cowardice, inexperience, and ineptitude.” They found “utter disregard for constitutional rights.
” Despite these damning findings, they argued officials had made “mistakes in judgment” rather than criminal acts. They cited difficulty proving criminal intent. Furthermore, they accepted claims that chaos and confusion precluded deliberate criminality. Critics immediately accused the District Attorney’s office of failing to vigorously pursue charges. Additionally, observers questioned the grand jury’s composition. Years later, some jurors would express private regret about the decision not to indict.
The only successful legal accountability came eight years after the bombing. In June 1996, a federal jury in the civil rights case *Africa v. City of Philadelphia* found the city liable for constitutional violations. Specifically, they awarded $1.5 million to survivor Ramona Africa and the estates of John Africa and Conrad Africa—$500,000 each. The verdict explicitly found that officials used excessive force and violated constitutional rights.
However, no individual officials faced personal liability. Moreover, the monetary damages, divided among survivors and families—represented grossly inadequate compensation for eleven deaths and sixty-one destroyed homes. As for the Commission’s recommendations? Most were never implemented. Philadelphia would not establish civilian oversight of police until 2020, thirty-five years after the bombing. Use-of-force policies were updated only minimally. No sustained accountability mechanisms were created.
The officials involved faced these consequences:
Mayor W. Wilson Goode: Remained in office. Won re-election in 1987. Served full second term. Now works as consultant and minister.
Police Commissioner Gregore J. Sambor: Resigned November 1985. Received full pension. No criminal charges. No professional sanctions.
Fire Commissioner William Richmond: Reassigned to other city duties. Not terminated. No criminal charges. Received full pension.
Managing Director Leo Brooks: Resigned. No charges. Later worked in private sector.
Detective William Klein (helicopter pilot): No sanctions. Continued career with state police.
Detective Frank Powell (bomb maker): No disciplinary action. No charges.
None lost pensions. None faced professional consequences beyond resignation or reassignment. None were criminally prosecuted. Most retired with full benefits. In forty years, not a single person has served a day in prison for the deaths of eleven people, five of them children.
Sources and Documentation
This article is based on official government documents, court records, contemporary news reporting, and extensive historical research. All factual claims can be independently verified through the sources below.
Primary Documents (Official Records)
Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission Report (1986)
– [Full Report: “The Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations“] – Office of Justice Programs
– [Commission Report Summary] – Digital archive
Federal Court Records
– [Africa v. City of Philadelphia*, 91 F.3d 234 (3rd Cir. 1996)] – Civil rights verdict finding city liable
Historical Documentation
– [MOVE Bombing Archive] – American Philosophical Society digital collection
– [West Philadelphia Collaborative History Project] – Primary source materials
Contemporary & Anniversary News Coverage
The Philadelphia Inquirer
– [MOVE Bombing Comprehensive Archive] – Dedicated coverage hub
– [40th Anniversary Coverage (May 2025)]
WHYY (Philadelphia NPR Affiliate)
– [40 Years Later: The MOVE Bombing] – Comprehensive reporting
– [Timeline: MOVE in Philadelphia] – Interactive chronology
– [Let the Fire Burn: Documentary Resources] – PBS documentary materials
The Guardian (International Coverage)
– [Philadelphia MOVE bombing: 40 years on, still no justice] – May 13, 2025 anniversary coverage
Los Angeles Times
– [Contemporary Coverage: May 14, 1985] – Original next-day reporting
– [Birdie Africa obituary (2013)]
Academic & Historical Analysis
Books
– Anderson, John and Hilary Hevenor. *Burning Down the House: MOVE and the Tragedy of Philadelphia* (W.W. Norton, 1987)
– Boyette, Michael and Randi Boyette. *Let It Burn: MOVE, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Confrontation That Changed a City* (1989)
– Wagner-Pacifici, Robin. *Theorizing the Standoff: Contingency in Action* (Cambridge University Press, 2000)
Academic Resources
– [Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia: MOVE Bombing] – Historical context and analysis
– [Digital Public Library of America: MOVE Collection] – Curated primary sources
Documentary Films & Video Archives
Feature Documentaries
– [*Let the Fire Burn*] (2013) – PBS Independent Lens, directed by Jason Osder
– *40 Years a Prisoner* (2020) – HBO, directed by Tommy Oliver
News Archive Video
– Multiple broadcast networks covered the bombing extensively, footage available through network archives and YouTube historical channels
Museums & Archives
Penn Museum Remains Investigation
– [Penn Museum Statement on MOVE Remains (2021)] – Official acknowledgment and apology
– [Princeton University Statement (2021)] – Professor Monge investigation
Physical Archives
– Philadelphia City Archives – 3101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
– [Urban Archives, Temple University] – Extensive Philadelphia history collection
– Historical Society of Pennsylvania – General Philadelphia resources
Additional Research Resources
Wikipedia (starting point for research, not primary source)
– [MOVE (Philadelphia organization)] – Background and history
– [1985 MOVE bombing] – Event details with citations
Ongoing Advocacy
– [MOVE Organization Official Website] – Current MOVE member perspectives and advocacy
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