Inspector Frank Bachmayer, commander of the Northeast Police Division, spoke at the recent Greater Bustleton Civic League meeting.
Bachmayer, a 43-year veteran of the police department, said the department is down about 1,200 officers from a few years ago, but is working on a number of crime-fighting efforts.
Bachmayer discussed a retail theft initiative that started a little more than a month ago. Police track offenders at pharmacies, convenience stores and department stores and make arrests, often for multiple thefts, and the charges are more than summary offenses.
“That’s the way it should be,” Bachmayer said.
Bachmayer said it’s somewhat common to find people go into a store, put items into a bag and walk out without paying.
“It’s crazy,” he said.
Bachmayer said police officers are being stationed at Pennypack Park on weekends to deter illegal and dangerous activities, such as children swimming. Officers are stationed at locations such as Frankford and Solly avenues, Rhawn Street and Holmehurst Avenue and Winchester Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Bachmayer also spoke of an aggressive driving detail, mostly on the 4 p.m. to midnight shift. The detail is at locations such as Bustleton Avenue, from Grant Avenue to County Line Road, Castor Avenue and Harbison Avenue/Aramingo Avenue.
There are also car meet details on weekends from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. at 10 locations in the Northeast, including two in the 7th Police District on Roosevelt Boulevard, at Red Lion Road and Byberry Road.
Bachmayer said police will look into a complaint that there is a homeless woman living in a tent in front of a bank at Knights and Woodhaven roads who throws rocks at cars.
In other news from the June 25 meeting:
• Also addressing the GBCL was Carlton Williams, a resident of the Pennypack area and director of the city’s new Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. Williams is a former commissioner of the Departments of Street and Licenses and Inspections.
Williams said his office is in the process of cleaning all 17,000 blocks in the city in a 13-week period. Northeast blocks will be cleaned at the end of the 13 weeks. Williams said the city is also cleaning schools and vacant lots and towing abandoned cars. There are plans to clear graffiti on I-76, I-95 and I-676 and double the number of trash cans on city streets. Leaf collection will expand in the fall.
Williams said if residents see sanitation workers leaving trash in the street or mixing recyclables with trash, they should get the six-digit number on the truck and report it to 311.
For more information, visit OfficeofCleanandGreen.org or email [email protected].
• City Controller Christy Brady, a Fox Chase resident, invited the public to a Northeast Government Open House on Wednesday, July 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road. Among those in attendance will be local elected officials, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, the Philadelphia Parking Authority and representatives from city, state and federal agencies. There will be light refreshments.
• Capt. Steven O’Brien, commander of the 7th Police District, gave some crime stats over a recent 28-day period. He said there were three residential burglaries, one on the 500 block of Susquehanna Road and two on the 1100 block of Stanwood St., where someone stole ATVs. There was one commercial burglary, a stolen car at Faulkner Hyundai, 11500 Roosevelt Blvd.
• The crowd included representatives of City Councilmen Brian O’Neill and Mike Driscoll, state Sen. Jimmy Dillon, state Rep. Joe Hohenstein and Register of Wills John Sabatina.
• Joe Picozzi, the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District, told the crowd he is a Somerton native who attended St. Christopher and Holy Ghost Prep. He recalled a time not too long ago when kids in the Northeast could play outside safely. His top campaign items are improving public safety; supporting an education plan that includes more mentorships, vocational training and summer and after-school programs; and strengthening civic associations as part of an overall community renewal. Picozzi is challenging Democratic Sen. Jimmy Dillon.
• Aizaz Gill, the Republican candidate in the 172nd Legislative District, told the group he is a graduate of St. Cecilia and Father Judge and serves as president of the Burholme Civic Association. He described the proposed UPS center on Red Lion Road as a “monstrosity” and said he would oppose any tax incentives for the company. He made a donation to the civic association to help the group pay its insurance premium, which rose greatly once the UPS developer sued the GBCL for appealing to stop construction.
Gill faces Democrat Sean Dougherty, who defeated Rep. Kevin Boyle in the primary. Gill criticized Boyle for not voting when the House voted to impeach District Attorney Larry Krasner. Gill argued that he would be the better candidate for law and order than Dougherty, a former public defender. “I will absolutely vote to impeach Larry Krasner,” Gill said.
During a question-and-answer session, an aide to Dillon said he was the only Senate Democrat to vote to impeach Krasner, but Gill noted the Senate has not voted on impeachment. The following day, Dillon’s office issued a statement acknowledging the aide misspoke and apologizing for any confusion, adding that the aide meant to say Dillon was the only Senate Democrat to vote to accept the articles of impeachment from the House and adopt rules for a Senate trial of Krasner.
• The 2nd and 7th police districts will hold a community bike ride on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 5 p.m., beginning outside Fox Chase Elementary School, 500 Rhawn St. Participants will be entered into a drawing for a new bike. National Night Out will follow at 6 p.m.
Sen. Jimmy Dillon has replaced Rep. Kevin Boyle as organizer of the annual National Night Out celebration in the Fox Chase Elementary School yard. There will be a DJ, food and vendors. Call 215-695-1020.
• The 7th Police District will host a Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at 1701 Bowler St. There will be food, giveaways, information tables, a DJ and police and fire vehicles. Come wish community relations officer Joe Staszak a happy retirement after 34 years with the police department.
• The Greater Bustleton Civic League will meet on Thursday, July 25, at 7 p.m. at American Heritage Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road, to discuss the proposed UPS center. The GBCL will not meet in August and will return Sept. 24. ••
