We received our Town Watch Award last Saturday at an impressive gathering of various town watch and civic groups throughout the city. We were nominated by our Community Relations Officer Delgado, who in turn, was just awarded the FENCL award, a very high honor, from the Daily News. Please be sure to congratulate him the next time you see him at a community event.

So for those of you who have not yet heard, we have a new captain—Captain McDowell-- in the 3d District who has been in place for 6 weeks now, apparently handpicked by Commissioner Ramsey. Captain McDowell addressed our group last night and discussed his strategy for fighting crime in our district. (I apologize that his presence wasn’t better publicized, but based upon what I had been told, it seemed unlikely that he would attend).

Prior to his new station, he was in the 25th district, known as the ‘badlands’ in North Philadelphia. He has a background in the Navy and believes in using intelligence, effectiveness and efficiency as a means for fighting crime. He emphasizes taking on a global perspective on crime, efficiency, community policing, and running covert operations. In an unprecedented move, he provided his email to the group at the end of the meeting.

Customer Service Mission--In his effort to produce a more service oriented police force, he has facilitated the process of filing a police report in person. If one goes in to file a complaint, the officer should fill out the form and put the appropriate call in for you. You should have follow up from your complaint within 5 days. If you are unsatisfied with the process or result, the on-duty supervisor’s contact information (as well as the captain’s) is posted for you.

In terms of approaching crime, he does not believe in a stationary presence, but a revolving presence including patrol cars, bicycles cops and hopefully forthcoming segways (2-wheel upright scooters). He adamantly defends his decision to remove the patrol car at 5th and Carpenter (a source of controversy already) stating that a stationary presence is not an efficient use of resources, it can invoke complacency on behalf of the officers, the criminals know where they are, and it does not necessarily reduce violent crime as evidenced from the fact that there were two murders on that corner in the past three years in the presence of a patrol car.

When working in the 25th, he piloted a program in which he paired rookie and veteran cops with specific training which reduced violent crime by 14%. With this program still in effect, violent crime had been reduced further to 20%.

He realizes that violent crime is not as prevalent in this district (thankfully) and is addressing other quality of life issues that concern us. We were able to voice our concerns over increased gunpoint robberies in daylight hours and in general, a lack of presence away from South Street into the neighborhood, as well as parking, bike and car traffic (especially on Christian Street) concerns. He was very receptive overall.

He has a new initiative known as GREAT—Gang Resistance Education and Training aimed for 4th and 5th graders. However, it has to requested by the schools themselves.

He touched briefly on the 311 system that is forthcoming, as a means for residents to make non-emergency calls such as potholes, snow on sidewalks. But he emphasized that all calls should go to 911 for now.

He strongly emphasized attendance at upcoming Town Hall meetings to meet with Commissioner Ramsey, himself and Inspector Joseph Mooney.

Dates:

Town Hall with Commissioner Ramsey
July 22nd 7pm
Penn’s Landing Caterers (Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall) on Columbus Ave

Town Hall with Captain McDowell
Wednesday July 2nd at 6:30
Edward O’Malley (EOM) Rec Center in Pennsport: 144 Moore Street, between Front and Second (Before you get to Target from QV)

This is the leadership we have been waiting for now, more than ever is the time to get involved. I strongly encourage people to get out to these meetings, at least the Town Hall meeting with our new captain. It was very inspiring to meet with him and I look forward to working closely with his team.