39th District Police Mural
The mural that transformed the 39th District Police department of Philadelphia into a colorful and inviting space was unveiled this past December of 2025. Birthed originally from a dream that Officer Raymond Sutton had for the department, the project took on a life of it’s own as the station was able to partner with the Cristo Rey High School Senior Class of 2026 to paint the mural.
Drew Montemayor of The Mayor’s Art and Danielle Rossi, Director of Art at Cristo Rey High School were tasked with leading and designing the mural. Creatively woven into the fall senior art curriculum, the project invited officers and students to paint side-by-side, engage in candid discussions about policing, and share moments of genuine connection. The time painting seemed to create a safe place of common ground to help facilitate truthful conversations that probably wouldn’t have been available otherwise.
The design of the mural was inspired by the vision of the students as well as Officer Sutton. To achieve this, we stitched together a collective voice using feedback from the senior class via a Google form, translating their reflections on symbolism and community into the final design.
The student’s vision resonates through every detail of the mural: from the lifelike young girl piecing the composition together to the hands bridging the divide on either side, all anchored by a subtle yet expansive infinity symbol. If you look closely, you can also see numbers scattered throughout the design. These numbers pay homage to the officers of the district that were lost while serving their community. The image of an officer reading with a young girl serves as the mural’s catalyst, where emerging butterflies symbolize the spark of imagination and Officer Sutton’s original dream. This vision takes flight toward the top left, culminating in a realistic butterfly that nearly breaks the plane of the wall—marking the moment the dream transcends into reality.
The officers that helped paint and connect with the Cristo Rey students included Raymond Sutton, Tarik Stroman, and Brittany Wilson.
Funding for the mural was graciously provided by The Pincus Family Foundation and Janet Cusack. Additional assisting and painting provided by Janet Cusack, Sister Maryanne Zakreski SSJ, Liz Affleck, and Marcus Hines.
The 39th District Police mural is located on the right wall as you enter the main entrance of the 39th district station on West Hunting Park Ave.
CBS COVERAGE OF THE MURAL