Lt. Thomas Macartney, of the 2nd Police District, addressed several concerns at last week’s Friends of Summerdale Civic Association meeting.
Macartney spoke of a recent meeting at St. Martin of Tours following an incident in which some neighborhood youths assaulted a boy who had stepped out of the school gymnasium during a basketball game.
The police official was also grilled about the arrests of two teenagers who play basketball for a Houseman Playground-based team. The two 14-year-olds were among four teens locked up shortly before 9 p.m. on Feb. 14 for allegedly committing an armed robbery on the 1300 block of Hellerman St. They were being held on $150,000 bail. The boys, their parents and coach maintain they had nothing to do with the crime.
Macartney said the 2nd district has a significant presence at local public schools, especially at dismissal. Problems include illegal parking outside Spruance and J. Hampton Moore elementary schools and Laura H. Carnell students harassing crossing guards. Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Fels and Northeast high schools are regularly monitored.
Macartney recommended that individuals be careful when strangers on the street ask them for the time of day. He said the seemingly innocent question has led to robberies of cell phones.
One issue that is not a police matter is a group of raccoons that have been camping out on a porch on the 800 block of Bridge St. Exterminators will set traps for the animals.
Macartney spoke of an upcoming mass evacuation of the Naval Support Activity base, at Oxford and Robbins avenues.
The 24-hour event will take place sometime during the week of March 19, but no specific dates and times have been announced. Police cars and helicopters are expected to be on the scene as 6,000 employees vacate after a mock terrorist attack.
“It’s not just a fire drill,” Macartney said.
Meanwhile, the Oxford Circle Police Athletic League is looking for children to register. Registration, programs, T-shirts and trophies are free.
There are whiffle ball and indoor touch football leagues for boys and girls ages 6 to 14; an after-school homework club Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 5:30 p.m. for boys and girls ages 6 to 12; and open-court basketball Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. for boys and girls ages 14 to 18.
Activities take place at Glading Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Neiheiser Hall, at Loretto and Cheltenham avenues.
Call 215–533–1395 or 215–291–9000, Ext. 165.
The Friends of Summerdale Civic Association will meet on Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m., at Houseman Playground, at Summerdale and Godfrey avenues. The guest speaker will be Diane Martino, of Philadelphia Gas Works. ••
