Fanta’s Law: Delco family pushes for bill to improve police training

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Two Delaware County lawmakers are introducing a bill to commemorate Fanta Bility, an 8-year-old girl who was shot and killed by police officers in Sharon Hill in 2021.

The bill, known as the Fanta Law, would require Delaware County officials to undergo more extensive training.

Democratic Senator Anthony H. Williams and Representative David Delloso announced the introduction of their respective bills Monday morning directly in front of Academy Park High School, where Fanta was killed.

“It is extraordinary that this family has not only used this tragic moment as a lesson for humanity — to ensure justice is served for their child,” said Williams, standing alongside the Bility family and a handful of county, municipal and state officials. “But we must also recognize that there are things we should have done, could have done and will do to prevent a tragedy of this nature from happening again.”

Senate Bill 1212, officially introduced on May 28, would require all officers in Class A districts to attend mandatory firearms training at least four times a year. Officers who fail to meet training requirements would be placed on leave until training is completed.

Delloso will introduce his bill in the House this week. He said his bill will focus on training officers in “high-pressure situations.”

Siddiq Kamara, Fanta’s cousin and chairman of the Fanta Bility Foundation, and Tenneh Kromah, Fanta’s mother and co-founder of the foundation, were instrumental in the discussions to draft the bill.

Kamara, a former police officer, said establishing a training standard for Delco’s 46 police departments would be a step in the right direction.

“One of the most important things for me and my aunt was to focus on police training. And over the last eight months, my aunt and I have been talking to all the elected officials across the county, state and local levels about how we can come together and make sure this tragedy never happens again,” Kamara said.

The Bility family and Democratic lawmakers worked behind the scenes with the Fraternal Order of Police Delaware County Lodge 27 and Republicans to ensure the bill satisfied all parties.

“I’ve already received a lot of support from leadership,” Delloso said. “I’ve already received a lot of support from my college – and I’m confident this bill will pass in the House of Representatives.”

Kromah was overwhelmed by her emotions and kept her words brief when speaking about her daughter.

“I don’t want anyone to get into that situation,” Kromah said.