After Lt. Jonathan Josey was dismissed from the Philadelphia police force for punching Aida Guzmán in the face at the 2012 Puerto Rican Day parade, he went on vacation in Jamaica and wrote a play about God and spirituality. Two years, one exoneration and $10,000 later, that production is on stage.

In a Daily New article, Josey said that he wrote, "What if Heaven was Black," in spite of the trial that brought national attention to police brutality in Philadelphia. In fact, he said that the “vacation” (for which he received back pay once reinstated to the force) was God’s plan to give him a break after nearly two decades of policing to hunker down and finish his play, which debuts Sat., Nov. 29, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Microsoft’s School of the Future in West Philadelphia for $25 a ticket. 

But not all Philadelphians were happy that the officer's brief, paid time off was so rewarding for him.

“We feel the slap each time someone like this horrible cop gets away with abuse,” author Rosaura Torres commented on the article. Another commenter, James Newhouse, compared the public outraged towards violence from NFL Player Ray Rice to the reaction to Josey.

“Where is the public outcry that Josey is getting his job back,” Newhouse wrote.

Guzmán has since won a suit against the city for $75,000 in damages. A recent report from the Police Advisory Commission questioned Josey’s and 18 other police officers’ reinstatement to the force by arbitrators, despite complaints of brutality or misconduct. Josey has had 13 other civilian complaints against him.