Residents question police involvement
Stephanie Takach
Issue date: 7/11/08 Section: News
Philadelphia community members spoke out July 8 against a lack of police involvement and voiced their concerns about drugs and violence at a town hall meeting with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey at the Metropolitan Baptist Church at 3500 Baring Street.
During the town hall, Ramsey also discussed with the community members how to better Philadelphia as a whole.
"You'll see a different Philadelphia," Ramsey said. "I'm pleased where we are but I am not satisfied."
MeeLin Youk, a resident of the Southwest Police District, told the police to get on their feet and get out in the community.
"We're not changing the nature of violence," Youk said.
Another resident of the 7900 Block of Morris Place said, "Cops need to step up their presence. … We need more involvement from police officers in the community."
Commissioner Ramsey said the parents need to have more of a presence in the community alongside the cops.
"We've got to come up with a solution together," Ramsey said. "There are a lot of things they [the cops] can do and we can encourage them to, [like] just caring about the community that you serve because there's always something going on."
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell was also in attendance to address community complaints about non-police related issues.
One resident questioned the meaning of drug-free school zones, as he sees kids "smoking up" everyday. Blackwell and Ramsey took down all relevant addresses corresponding to the complaints, including the schools, and said they would look into the problems immediately.
Residents also questioned the amount of activity for kids in the community and why they resort to violence.
"The children have nothing to do," a resident of the 1400 Block of N. Hearse St. said.
"I don't think that the kids are any worse, they have more challenges," Ramsey said. "Most kids are doing well, but too many are struggling."
Ramsey also commenced the town hall by announcing a drop in crime for the Southwest division over the past year.
The commissioner said shootings have decreased by 20 percent, homicides by 30 percent and violent crimes by 7 percent. He said that there are many reasons for the decrease in crime.
"It's a combination of things, but it's too soon to say definitively what exactly," Ramsey said. "We've had better deployment this year."
The Southwest Division included residents of the 12th, 16th, 18th and 19th districts. Drexel Univerisity is in the 16th and 18th Police District.
During the town hall, Ramsey also discussed with the community members how to better Philadelphia as a whole.
"You'll see a different Philadelphia," Ramsey said. "I'm pleased where we are but I am not satisfied."
MeeLin Youk, a resident of the Southwest Police District, told the police to get on their feet and get out in the community.
"We're not changing the nature of violence," Youk said.
Another resident of the 7900 Block of Morris Place said, "Cops need to step up their presence. … We need more involvement from police officers in the community."
Commissioner Ramsey said the parents need to have more of a presence in the community alongside the cops.
"We've got to come up with a solution together," Ramsey said. "There are a lot of things they [the cops] can do and we can encourage them to, [like] just caring about the community that you serve because there's always something going on."
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell was also in attendance to address community complaints about non-police related issues.
One resident questioned the meaning of drug-free school zones, as he sees kids "smoking up" everyday. Blackwell and Ramsey took down all relevant addresses corresponding to the complaints, including the schools, and said they would look into the problems immediately.
Residents also questioned the amount of activity for kids in the community and why they resort to violence.
"The children have nothing to do," a resident of the 1400 Block of N. Hearse St. said.
"I don't think that the kids are any worse, they have more challenges," Ramsey said. "Most kids are doing well, but too many are struggling."
Ramsey also commenced the town hall by announcing a drop in crime for the Southwest division over the past year.
The commissioner said shootings have decreased by 20 percent, homicides by 30 percent and violent crimes by 7 percent. He said that there are many reasons for the decrease in crime.
"It's a combination of things, but it's too soon to say definitively what exactly," Ramsey said. "We've had better deployment this year."
The Southwest Division included residents of the 12th, 16th, 18th and 19th districts. Drexel Univerisity is in the 16th and 18th Police District.
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