Neighbors and law enforcement officials gathered at Holmesburg Recreation Center last week for a lengthy and wide-ranging discussion about crime and quality-of-life issues.
A panel that included 15th Police District Capt. John Walker, state Rep. Joe Hohenstein and Lyandra Retacco, who supervises the charging unit at the District Attorney’s Office, answered questions as part of the May 28 Police Service Area III meeting.
PSA III covers Mayfair and parts of Holmesburg and Tacony.
Topics included ATVs and dirt bikes; trouble at Lincoln High School during dismissal; absentee landlords; drug use and dealing; charging and sentencing guidelines under DA Larry Krasner; and deployment of officers in the 15th District.
There was a lot of talk about the behavior of Lincoln students and other young people in the community. Walker acknowledged the problems at dismissal time.
“We’ve had a couple of bad days since I’ve been here,” said Walker, who took over the 15th District in December. “It’s a struggle.”
Walker said he plans to meet with school officials over the summer to discuss the situation. He believes the key is to get the students on SEPTA buses quicker, and he would like to see the bus stops moved closer to the school.
The captain is also worried that adding more students to the area around Rowland and Ryan avenues will exacerbate the problem.
As previously reported by the Times, the School District of Philadelphia is in the process of building a new elementary school behind Lincoln to accommodate about 1,600 K-8 students. Austin Meehan Middle School will be demolished as part of the master plan for the site.
Walker said he wants to see a traffic study to make sure the neighborhood can handle the extra volume.
Some at the meeting raised concerns about Lincoln students using marijuana after school, and interim Community Relations Officer Matthew Crosson said police can no longer lock kids up for smoking. Instead, they issue a citation.
Retacco said the DA’s Office doesn’t believe it’s worth the resources to send a high schooler to jail for smoking weed.
Residents, though, argued that minor crimes, like marijuana possession, and quality-of-life issues can lead to bigger problems in the neighborhood. Some questioned whether the DA’s Office was charging other drug offenders and dealers.
“The way that we’re deciding to use our resources is not to try and bring somebody a conviction for possession of a small amount of weed,” Retacco said. “We are not declining narcotics cases that are anything other than possession of a small amount of weed.”
She said prosecutors will sometimes direct certain cases to diversionary court programs if it’s clear the offender’s main problem is drug addiction.
The warmer weather has brought back ATVs and dirt bikes. Walker said the problem is “frustrating” but urged residents not to confront the riders.
“These kids are crazy, and they carry guns,” he said, adding that the illegal vehicles are a city-wide issue.
Walker referenced an incident that occurred May 18 where a dirt bike rider fatally shot a driver on Roosevelt Boulevard near Summerdale Avenue following a minor accident.
Officers typically do not chase dirt bikes because the riders are reckless and it creates a dangerous situation for everyone on the road, Walker said.
Anyone who knows a location where dirt bikes and ATVs are being stored can email [email protected], and officers will come out and attempt to confiscate the vehicles.
On the topic of absentee landlords, Walker urged civic leaders to be cautious when approving any new rental properties in their neighborhoods.
“One bad rental can ruin a whole neighborhood like that — overnight,” he said.
An example Walker used was the murder of Michael Gleba, who was killed by a stray bullet April 11 outside his auto repair shop in Wissinoming. Two nearby rental properties were responsible for the chaos that led to Gleba’s death, Walker said.
Those at the meeting also expressed an interest in getting more police officers in the 15th District. Walker said he’s not sure if he will be getting any additional support. ••
