Back-to-school/crime prevention and gun-buyback events were the big topics for members of the 15th Police District Advisory Council during their meeting Aug. 27 in the Mayfair Community Center.
Capt. Frank Bachmayer, the 15th district’s commander, said he was hoping a back-to-school event could be scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Mastery Charter School, at Charles and Bridge streets. A similar PDAC-sponsored event last year drew 300 people, said Pete Specos, PDAC treasurer.
Besides back-to-school, Bachmayer said the police and the PDAC’s volunteers want to stress crime prevention to residents.
“We have major concerns with violence in that area,” the captain said.
The event times haven’t been worked out yet, he added.
Mike Thaete, the PDAC’s president, said the organization recently spent $1,000 to buy 20 $50 ShopRite gift cards to be used in the next gun buyback, which has yet to be scheduled.
No questions are asked of anyone who brings a gun to a buyback, and anyone who does gets one of the gift certificates. Specos said police and the PDAC have conducted four such programs in the last two years and have taken about 200 guns off the street. Bachmayer said a date will be set after the district works out a schedule with the Police Department’s SWAT team, whose members attend gun buyback sessions.
Residents of the 15th district, the city’s largest, can meet with Bachmayer at his town hall session slated for Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Mayfair Community Center, 2990 St. Vincent St.
Anyone who misses that can meet with 15th district officers at three other September sessions:
• Residents of the top third of the district can bring local concerns and questions to the Tacony Baptist Church, 4715 Disston St., at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13.
• Those who live in the district’s center, can go to the Wissinoming Recreation Center, 5801 Frankford Ave., at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13.
• And residents of the district’s southern third can go to Aria Health’s Frankford campus, 4900 Frankford Ave., at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
The next 15th PDAC meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, at St. Joachim’s R.C. Church, 1527 Church St. PDAC sessions alternate between the Mayfair Community Center and St. Joachim’s. ••
