In September 2007 when Richard De Coatsworth was a 22-year-old rookie on the Philadelphia Police Department, he pulled over a suspicious vehicle occupied by four men. Three of the suspects jumped out of the car and fled. As the young officer alighted from the patrol car to give chase, the fourth suspect blasted him with a shotgun. Notwithstanding the gunshot wound to the lower portion of his face, officer De Coatsworth chased the gunman while calling in for help. Although he eventually collapsed, other officers apprehended the shooter. The assailant was later convicted and sentenced to 36 to 72 years in prison.
Officer De Coatsworth, following his medical recovery, was promoted to an elite highway patrol unit. In 2008 the National Association of Police Organizations named him that year's "Top Cop."
In February 2009, Vice President Joe Biden invited Officer De Coatsworth to sit next to Michelle Obama at the President's address to the Joint Session of Congress. The officer was seen on national TV sitting next to the First Lady in his ceremonial police uniform. In his brief law enforcement career, officer Richard De Coatsworth had achieved full hero status. It was at this point that his life and career began to deteriorate.
Just seven months after appearing with Michelle Obama, De Coatsworth was accused of excessive force after he shot a motorcyclist in the leg. In November 2011 the hero-cop was under investigation by the Internal Affairs Office for fighting with a fellow officer. A month later, after having amassed during his brief tenure as a police officer nine civilian complaints of assault, abuse and misconduct, Mr. De Coatsworth retired from the force on full disability.
Two months after leaving the police department Richard De Coatsworth was charged with threatening a woman in the Port Richmond section of the city.
On May 1, 2013, De Coatsworth, after meeting a woman in a downtown bar, allegedly sexually assaulted her at the Day's Inn on Roosevelt Boulevard. At two in the morning of Thursday, May 16, 2013, De Coatsworth showed up at this woman's home in the Fishtown-Kensington section of the city. At her residence Mr. De Coatsworth allegedly forced the 21-year-old and another woman her age to perform oral sex on him at gunpoint. The next day, immediately after the ex-cop departed the house, the woman he allegedly assaulted at the Day's Inn called the authorities.
On Saturday, May 18, 2013 a prosecutor charged Richard De Coatsworth with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, trafficking in persons, false imprisonment and aggravated assault. At his arraignment the magistrate judge set the defendant's bail at $25 million for each of the women. The judge added another $10 million bond in connection with an unrelated charge involving De Coatsworth's alleged May 9 assault of his live-in girlfriend. In total the ex-police officer was charged with 32 felonies. His bail was the highest in the history of city, and probably the state.
Officer De Coatsworth, following his medical recovery, was promoted to an elite highway patrol unit. In 2008 the National Association of Police Organizations named him that year's "Top Cop."
In February 2009, Vice President Joe Biden invited Officer De Coatsworth to sit next to Michelle Obama at the President's address to the Joint Session of Congress. The officer was seen on national TV sitting next to the First Lady in his ceremonial police uniform. In his brief law enforcement career, officer Richard De Coatsworth had achieved full hero status. It was at this point that his life and career began to deteriorate.
Just seven months after appearing with Michelle Obama, De Coatsworth was accused of excessive force after he shot a motorcyclist in the leg. In November 2011 the hero-cop was under investigation by the Internal Affairs Office for fighting with a fellow officer. A month later, after having amassed during his brief tenure as a police officer nine civilian complaints of assault, abuse and misconduct, Mr. De Coatsworth retired from the force on full disability.
Two months after leaving the police department Richard De Coatsworth was charged with threatening a woman in the Port Richmond section of the city.
On May 1, 2013, De Coatsworth, after meeting a woman in a downtown bar, allegedly sexually assaulted her at the Day's Inn on Roosevelt Boulevard. At two in the morning of Thursday, May 16, 2013, De Coatsworth showed up at this woman's home in the Fishtown-Kensington section of the city. At her residence Mr. De Coatsworth allegedly forced the 21-year-old and another woman her age to perform oral sex on him at gunpoint. The next day, immediately after the ex-cop departed the house, the woman he allegedly assaulted at the Day's Inn called the authorities.
On Saturday, May 18, 2013 a prosecutor charged Richard De Coatsworth with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, trafficking in persons, false imprisonment and aggravated assault. At his arraignment the magistrate judge set the defendant's bail at $25 million for each of the women. The judge added another $10 million bond in connection with an unrelated charge involving De Coatsworth's alleged May 9 assault of his live-in girlfriend. In total the ex-police officer was charged with 32 felonies. His bail was the highest in the history of city, and probably the state.
In January 2015 Richard De Coatsworth pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution, simple assault and drug possession. The judge sentenced him to 18 months probation.
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