Nutter Administration: 'No Comment' On FOP Fundraiser For Officer Who Hit Woman

By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Nutter administration is withholding comment on the decision of the local FOP to stage a fundraiser for police lieutenant Jonathan Josey.

Josey is slated to be fired after being caught on video hitting a woman in the face (see related story).

Mayor Nutter last week minced no words about Lt. Jonathan Josey, saying he was appalled and sickened by Josey's actions in the altercation with 39-year-old Aida Guzman (related story).

But the Nutter administration now is delivering a firm "no comment" to word that the Fraternal Order of Police will host a benefit later this month for Josey.

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FOP Lodge 5 president John McNesby says Josey will need the money as he battles to get his job back.

"He's going to be unemployed for probably up to a year, until he goes through the process of getting an actual fair hearing," McNesby says. "That's the whole thing: he was fired without a fair hearing. We wanted to do something for Jonathan. He's a standup guy and is well thought of in the police department."

The $30-a-person benefit will be held at the lodge hall on October 28th.

The video of Josey striking Guzman was posted on YouTube and the incident prompted national press attention (see previous story).