Politics
Philadelphia’s hiring rules kept older charges out of review for water department worker accused in fatal shooting
Eric Lewis was hired in 2024 for a $47,000 city water department job despite a past gun-related misdemeanor and a homicide case that ended in acquittal. Philadelphia officials say hiring law barred them from weighing the acquittal and a conviction more than seven years old, while a newer misdemeanor conviction could be considered.
Philadelphia hired Eric Lewis as a water department trades helper in May 2024, despite a criminal record that included a gun-related misdemeanor and a homicide charge that ended in acquittal. Lewis is now accused of fatally shooting Officer Shane Seiber and wounding another officer during an attack on police Saturday; the allegations have renewed questions about the city’s hiring rules and background checks.
The city paid Lewis $47,000 a year for the entry-level position, which involves assisting experienced workers with equipment maintenance and repairs. City Chief Human Resources Officer Candi Jones said Lewis followed the standard process for civil service jobs: he applied, joined an eligibility list, interviewed and underwent a background check.
Philadelphia’s Fair Chance Hiring Law, commonly called “ban the box,” limits when and how employers may use criminal records in hiring. Under the rules in effect when Lewis was hired, employers could not consider charges that did not result in a conviction, including his homicide case, or convictions more than seven years old. His 2015 convictions for simple assault and carrying a firearm in public therefore fell outside the permitted review period.
Lewis was acquitted in 2023 of the 2019 murder of Christopher Williams. That case has since drawn renewed scrutiny: District Attorney Larry Krasner has accused police of mishandling the investigation, and said an officer who had dated Lewis’ sister provided fabricated information. Police spokesperson Sgt. Eric Gripp said the department is reviewing the case, while emphasizing support for the officers’ families and those grieving Seiber.
A more recent conviction could have been considered in the city’s hiring decision. Lewis was charged in 2018 with simple assault and reckless endangerment after police alleged he punched a woman. He later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor, and received one year of probation, according to court records.
Jones said the city assesses convictions individually, looking at their nature, relevance to the job and potential risk. Applicants for public safety positions may face additional scrutiny, and separate laws govern checks for jobs involving children. A criminal record does not automatically bar someone from city employment, she said.
The city first adopted its Fair Chance Hiring Law in 2011, requiring most Philadelphia employers to remove criminal-history questions from applications. A 2016 amendment delayed inquiries until after a conditional job offer and barred consideration of convictions more than seven years old. City Council later shortened the look-back period for misdemeanor convictions to four years, but that change took effect after Lewis was hired.
Supporters say fair-chance rules open employment to people with records and help address barriers faced by thousands of Philadelphians. Critics argue the limits can complicate employers’ safety assessments. Jones said the city stands by its inclusive hiring practices, while calling the alleged attack on Seiber and the other officer “abhorrent.” She said the city’s priority is supporting its employees and their families and protecting workers and the public.