Tag: Crime

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Overington Park Needs Your Help

This coming Wednesday, July 14, at 10:00 AM, Philadelphia Inquirer Reporter Kia Gregory will be visiting Overington Park to write an article about the serious damage that has been inflicted on the Park trees, and the danger to Park visitors, by dogs whose owners who are apparently involved in dog fighting.
Kim will be bringing a photographer. The article will hopefully help us to bring out community support so that we can protect our Park.
We need lots of you, Overington Park Friends, supporters and volunteers, to be there with us for the Newspaper interview & photo. We want the Reporter to see the great support that the Park has.
Please come if you can!
Here is more information:
Overington Park is having a serious problem with a few dog owners that are apparently using the Park trees to train “fighting” dogs. The dogs are off-leash, and set onto the trees to rip off the bark.  Nine newly planted trees are already damaged beyond repair. Now the
rest of them and many bigger trees are being attacked. After being spoken to by Park volunteers, these dog owners responded by setting fire to the dog bag station.
Because over $2,000 dollars worth of damage has been done, the 15th Police District has assigned a Detective to the case, but the Police really need the eyes of the community to make any progress.

We basically need to call the Police immediately if they see anyone having their dogs tear up trees in the Park, or otherwise abuse the Park or the dogs. It would be great if they could get photos or video clips too!

People can call 911 or 311 or you can call and/or email the 15th Police District directly at 215-686-3150 or police.co_15@phila.gov

Everyone has been enjoying Overington Park’s beautiful plantings and freshly painted benches, etc. Please help us keep our Park!

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Criminal Parked on the Wrong Block

I don’t usually link to stories like this but this is too good to ignore.  From the Daily News:

On Saturday, police said Alvarez, 44, of Staten Island, N.Y., who was visiting the 12-year-old boy’s family, pulled up to where the boy was playing basketball on Lawrence Street near Rockland in Olney around 9:30 p.m. and asked him if wanted to go buy fireworks.

The boy got into Alvarez’s van and Alvarez drove nearly three miles to Rutland Street near Oxford Avenue in Frankford, where he parked the van, according to police.

A police source said residents of that area watched the van with New York plates park and witnessed as Alvarez and the boy went from the front of the van to the back.

Suspicious, the residents called police.

“This is outstanding that the neighbors got involved in this,” the source said.

Congratulations to the residents for getting this guy.  You may have saved this boy.

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Trouble at Overington Park

From Park friend:

I posted something on the message board about what has been going on in the park. Last night (Monday June 21st) they chewed through a tree ripping it in half and killing the tree. This makes 5 dead trees! They think this is funny. The city and PHS thought we were worth giving the new trees to make our park a better place, these thugs are making us all look bad. Someone has to see who is doing this damage. All we need is a picture of the guy in charge of the dogs that we can give to the police. If you see the dogs on the trees call the cops, or snap a discreet picture of the man and send it to me I’ll pass it on to the police. This guy won’t stop until all the trees are gone, then he thinks all the good people will leave the park to him to do his business. We must stop this PIG from taking our park! Please put the word out, we need help.

I was over there yesterday to get a picture of the tree.  No sign of the perpetrator but if there had been I would have been all over 911.  You just can’t let these things pass.  That park is too beautiful to let it be taken over by vermin.

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Patrol Sector Area 1 Community Meeting

PSA 1 community meeting was held last night at Aria Health, Frankford at 7PM.   About 30 people from Northwood, West Frankford, East Frankford and Bridesburg attended.

So what is the point of this meeting and what exactly is a PSA?  Good question.  Let me try to translate.

The Police Department has made a lot of progress in reducing the crime rate by redeploying their officers and focusing on areas and times where crime takes place.  This strategy has its limits.  There are too many bums and criminals out there compared to the number of cops available.  The most recent strategy implemented was Patrol Sector Areas which is meaningless unless you also understand that specific police officers are assigned permanently to those areas.

The cop you see driving down the street today will be back tomorrow and the next day and the next day.  You will eventually recognize them and they will get to know you and your street and your neighborhood.  They will also get to know the folks who need watching.  This is contrary to previous procedures which would have officers patrolling any where within their districts.

Now that you know the police officer driving in that car, maybe you will be encouraged to help him out.  Nobody knows what is happening on your block better than you.  You can cooperate with the police by calling 911 when you see things going on that should not be happening.  Crimes call 911.  Quality of life call 311.  Better yet, come to the PSA monthly meeting and tell Lt. Zaffino and Sgt. Rosenbaum what’s really going on.

Lt. Zaffino and Sgt. Rosenbaum with two patrol officers

I was impressed last night as they went around the room and asked each person what issues they had.  They both showed that they do have a very detailed knowledge of what is going on in this area.  I won’t go into specific situations but they covered the range from nuisance to to drug sales to bad neighbors to illegal parking.  None of these things are minor since quality of life issues may often lead to more serious problems later.

The bottom line is that if you want to reduce crime, the police cannot do it all alone.  Community involvement is a necessity.  They provide you an opportunity every month to sound off and talk directly to the people who do the job.  It’s up to you to take advantage of it.

The next PSA 1 meeting is scheduled for June 1st at Aria Health, Frankford.

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Northwood Civic Meeting

The Northood Civic Association held their monthly meeting last night, April 20th at St. James.  A good crowd was on hand.

The Civic has met now met with all political representatives involved and has their support on the issue of the Volunteers of America (VOA) purchase of the house on Roosevelt Boulevard for use as a group home.  No compromise is possible and the home must be used as a single family home period.  The ball is now in the VOA court.

The lawsuit against Northwood Civic Association by Attorney Guinan has been settled satisfactorily.  No further action is to take place on the matter.

Barry Howell reported on the meeting Friday night with New Frankford Developers LLC.  His comments are below.

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In addition, Felicia Richardson of New Frankford Developers attended the meeting and took the opportunity to speak for a few minutes about plans for the Y.  Her comments are below.

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The issue of crime came up at the end of the meeting and many of those in attendance had personal experiences to report.  Many were relatively minor nuisance crimes that would not usually get a police response.  Barry noted however that a call to report the problem should always be made to get it on the record.  Pete Specos (Frankford Civic) noted that people should take advantage of the newly implemented PSA meetings to bring these issues directly to the captain.  The next PSA (Police Sector Area) meeting for sector 1 is on May 4th at 7PM at the second floor conference room at Aria Frankford.

Barry also noted that there was a flash mob in Northwood last Wednesday, April 14th.  Police had been monitoring it and expected it to happen at Roosevelt Mall.  No damage or injury was reported.

The Greenwood Cemetery will hold a ground breaking on the restoration of the old farmhouse on Friday, April 30th at 10AM.  The pols will be there for picture opportunities.  It is a historic building and the public is invited.

The next meeting for the Northwood Civic is on May 18th.