Tag: PSA 1

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June PSA Meeting

“You have very good people who live here and very bad people who run it”

Officer Lewis commented on the state of affairs in Frankford, from his perspective, speaking at the PSA1 meeting on June 25th.  I can’t disagree very much except to say that they are certainly trying to run it.  Whether they are successful, is up to the people.

There were 20 residents along with Lt. Gordon, ADA Coelho, Officers Jacobs and Lewis at the meeting at Aria Hospital.  Details of the discussion will be left unreported to avoid the possibility of compromising ongoing investigations.  The police are working on the hot spots discussed in previous meetings.

The next PSA1 meeting will be held at Aria Hospital at 7 PM on July 23rd.

 

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Residents Turned Out for the PSA1 Meeting

The PSA1 meeting was well attended on April 23rd with Lt. Gordon working through the list of issues raised by residents.  In addition to Gordon, Officers Lewis and Jacobs who have been attending, SEPTA police as well as some PPD patrol officers also sat in.

Pete Specos, Treasurer of the 15th District PDAC reported that he made a statement on behalf of the Frankford community at the trial of an individual for dealings in the area of Frankford and Foulkrod.  This it to help the judge understand the impact of these activities on the community.  The defendant received a substantial prison sentence.

SEPTA police say that they have stepped up their patrol of the area around the Margaret-Orthodox station and are coordinating operations with the PPD.  Arrests are being made.  The PPD is enforcing  closing hours for take out businesses in Frankford which tend to attract trouble.  In the commercial area it is 2 AM.  In the residential areas it is 11 PM.

Drug traffic on the 4700 block of Griscom had dropped but has now picked up.  The police are investigating.  Tips from the public make a difference.  It is not necessary to call the police to make a tip.  You can go online and provide information safely.  No officer will knock at your door to talk to you. This is the link:  http://www.phillypolice.com/forms/submit-a-tip/.  You can also send a text message to PPDTIP (773847).

Nuisance activity by groups of gentlemen outside the store on the 4800 block of Oxford Avenue has been noted.

The 4700 block of Frankford Avenue continues to be a hot spot for drugs.  The 4700 block of Salem has become almost intolerable unless you are a drug addict.  Residents with children are afraid to let them play outside for fear that one will pick up a discarded needle from the sidewalk.  The 4200 block of Romain is seeing harassment from groups of rowdy teenage girls.

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Joe Krause, President of the Northwood Civic reported that a house, he reported at a previous PSA meeting, on the 1100 block of Haworth, saw police activity for several hours recently.  Gordon said that was true but the investigation is ongoing.  Krause also noted the manager at Simpson Playground has reported kids on dirt bikes riding around.  The police cannot chase people on dirt bikes because of safety concerns but do apprehend them and confiscate the bikes.  They are illegal to be on public streets or anywhere not on your own property.

Discussing the problem of criminals being out on bail or probation, the police note that they only arrest the accused, it us up to the judicial system to handle it after that.  Judges do the sentencing.  Joe Krause notes that there are two judges running for election in May who live in Frankford.  Frank Bennett and Sandjai Weaver.

Officer Lewis pointed out that Frankford hosts a large number of drug treatment and rehab houses.  By their nature they attract clients that have drug problems.

One resident asked about curfew since summer is coming.  Curfew for 13 and under is 8PM during school year and 9PM in the Summer.  For 14 and 15 year olds it is 9PM and 10PM.  16 and older it is 10PM and 11PM.  One of the officers talked about truancy enforcement and said that it is very difficult to know when students are supposed to be in school in the world of all the new schools operating in the city now.  There have been incidents where kids have been picked up for truancy in the morning when the were due to start late.  Attendance enforcement has to be between the parents and the school.

The next PSA1 meeting will be on Thursday, May 28th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.  Bring your tips.

 

 

 

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PSA1 March Meeting

The PSA meeting on March 26th was well attended with people from all areas of Frankford.  Representing the police was Captain McCloskey, Lt. Gordon and Officer Lewis.

Officer Lewis noted that the discovery of the woman buried in the alley off the 4700 block of Frankford Avenue was the result of a tip by the other residents.  The beat officer was notified and that set of the chain of events that resulted in the arrest of the suspect.  The victim was identified as Kelly Hepfl who has had addresses in West Chester, Downingtown and other locations in Philadelphia.  The suspect has not been identified so far and no charges have been filed as of today.

Other news from the meeting:

  • Robberies around the Frankford Transportation Terminal are still going on but have slowed down.  SEPTA polie and the PPD are working together to put an end to the problem.
  • The Narcotics Strike force has been active in the Bridge Street area and arrests have been made.
  • Enforcement of the 2AM closing time for businesses in the commercial areas is being enforced.  “Nothing good in Frankford happens after 2AM”.
  • The police have been proactive in being present at school dismissal time on the Avenue and where crowds of teens had after dismissal.
  • There was a discussion about a recent video posted of a car stop by 15th.  The driver was stopped for heavily tinted windows which are illegal.  The driver presented evidence from PennDot that he was allowed the tinting due to a medical condition.  Some viewers have labeled the stop as police over reach.  Others have called it an attempt by the driver to provoke the police into using excess force.  The discussion about the incident was productive.
  • Residents from Castor Avenue say that the traffic between Foulkrod and Pratt Streets has become a real problem with noise and speeding.  In additions there are ATVs running up and down the streets.  Excess noise from a vehicle is an offense punishable with a $300 fine.  Although the police are prohibited from chasing the ATVs for safety reasons, when they are stopped, they can be confiscated and will not be returned.  It is illegal to drive them on city Streets.
  • Kim Washington, Managing Director of the Frankford CDC,  asked about coordination between SEPTA and the PPD regarding the loitering around Margaret-Orthodox.  Lt. Gordon noted that this has been a subject at past meetings and SEPTA police have committed to attending the PSA meetings.  The schedule confusion this month was the cause of no SEPTA representation at this months meeting.  Gordon and Lewis went on to discuss their view of what is going on at Margaret-Orthodox and Captain McCloskey talked about future actions that will be taken to control the activity their.
  • Residents of the 5000 and 4700 block of Griscom both took the opportunity to thank the police for their work during the last year.  They say it is much better now than it was last year at this time.  It takes constant attention but the improvement is clear.

Kim Washington also introduced two new members of the CDC staff to the group.  Illeana Garcia and Ellie Devyatkin are the new Commercial Corridor managers.  You can hear more about their work at the annual public meeting of the Frankford Community Development Corporation which will be held in conjunction with the EPIC Stakeholders on April 30 at 5:30 PM at Second Baptist Church at 1801 Meadow Street.

The next PSA1 meeting will be held on April 23rd at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

 

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PSA1 Meeting

There will be a meeting for PSA1 tomorrow night at 7PM at Aria Hospital at 4900 Frankford Avenue.  Come meet the police and your fellow neighbors who are concerned about crime in PSA1 which includes Frankford/Northwood and Bridesburg.

Want a great graphic of crime in Frankford, go to Trulia and have a look.  Also give you some interesting data on other facts of life in Frankford.

 

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PSA1 Meeting for January

Captain McCloskey attended the meeting on January 22nd at Aria Hospital with about 15 community residents.  The issues covered were a recap of the most recent violence in Frankford.  The shootings on Penn Street and Adams Avenue and the robberies around the Frankford Transportation center.  We have a short video below.  Turn up your volume, there was a lot of background noise.

 

The next PSA1 meeting will be on February 26th at 7PM at Aria Hospital at 4900 Frankford Avenue.