US wants to revive case on Philadelphia police

The Justice Department said Monday it will appeal last year's court dismissal of its civil suit accusing the City of Philadelphia and its police department of widespread and systematic police brutality. The unique civil suit, filed in US District Court in Philadelphia last August, sought to prevent former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo and senior city officials from carrying on police practices the federal government said were shocking to the conscience.

Last December, in a rebuff to the government, District Judge William Ditter rejected the suit on the ground that the government had no legal standing to file the action.