Sgt. Matt Lowe and community relations officer Mark Mroz, of the 2nd Police District, last week provided 2019 crime statistics at the Lawncrest Community Association meeting.
There were seven homicides last year, compared to 13 in 2018. While the city is experiencing a huge spike in murders in 2020, there have been no killings in the 2nd district.
The district had slight increases in 2019 in robberies, robberies with guns, aggravated assaults, aggravated assaults with guns and violent crime.
There was a big decrease in thefts from autos, along with dips in residential and commercial burglaries and shooting victims.
Jeanne Pleis, on behalf of the women of Crescentville United Methodist Church, presented a “Strength for the Street” Bible to Mroz for his support over the years. The ladies ordered the book as part of the American Bible Society’s “Bibles for Heroes” campaign.
In other news from the Jan. 21 meeting:
• Allen Tire, 6301 Rising Sun Ave., was named Business of the Month.
• Census officials explained that Americans will be able to respond either online, by phone or via mail. An invitation-to-participate letter will be mailed sometime from March 12-20. The Census is hiring 16,000 people in Philadelphia. People can apply at 2020census.gov/jobs. The pay is $23 to $28 per hour, with flexible schedules. Veterans will receive a preference in hiring.
• Presentation BVM thanked the Lawncrest Community Association for sponsoring its basketball team’s T-shirts. In appreciation, the team presented longtime LCA president Bill Dolbow with a T-shirt with the number 35 on the back. Dolbow is the longtime Democratic leader of the 35th Ward.
• A meeting is planned for Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Northeast High School to discuss the future of the World War I memorial at the intersection of Cottman, Oxford and Rising Sun avenues. The intersection will be redesigned to make it safer for motorists and pedestrians. One proposal is to move the memorial to Burholme Park.
• Lawncrest Recreation Center, 6000 Rising Sun Ave., will offer a free art club for people 16 and older from Feb. 6 to March 26. The class meets Thursdays and Fridays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. No experience is necessary. Call 215-685-0597.
• The Philadelphia Protestant Home, 6401 Martins Mill Road, will hold an open house for prospective volunteers on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 10 to 11 a.m. in its social hall.
• Lawncrest Community Association will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. at St. William’s Monsignor Mortimer Parish Hall, Argyle and Robbins streets. ••
