A public safety plan crafted from a recent crime summit is scheduled to be released thisweek and presented to Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker, said Councilmember Curtis Jones during council session on last Thursday.
The document, titled, “Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia,” grew out of a September meeting at St. Joseph’s University, championed by Jones, whose 4th District includes parts of West Philadelphia.
An estimated 150 stakeholders attended, including Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford, District Attorney Larry Krasner and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who chairs the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, along with several community non-profit violence prevention groups.
“St. Joseph’s took those notes and recommendations and we codified them into categories, the problem, the solution and the next steps,” Jones said. “It can be used as a starting point for the next mayor.”
Last Thursday, the council passed a resolution calling on the city to examine a technique used in St. Louis, Mo., known as “consent to search,” where residents in high crime areas are asked to give permission to have their homes searched for weapons.
Last week, the council passed a law to ban ski masks in certain public places. It awaits Mayor Jim Kenney’s signature.
“The administration will review the legislation and in the meantime looks forward to our ongoing work with the City Council on the urgent matter of public safety,” said Charlotte Merrick, a spokesperson for Kenney.
Other recommendations include the use of cameras that photograph license plates seeking stolen cars or vehicles involved in crime.
Jones said the release of the document is timely in wake last week’s tragic murder of a Center City Macy’s security guard, who was stabbed by a shoplifting suspect.
“Eric Harrison, next month, was scheduled to take the police officers exam,” Councilmember Jones said. “He was doing the right thing, going to work every day, doing his job trying to make ends meet. Due to the theft, someone elevated that crime to murder. We have to pay attention to the small things, so that they don’t become big things.”
Tyrone Tunnell, 30, was arrested and charged with murder and weapons charges, as a result of cooperation with Philadelphia and SEPTA police, using the agency’s camera system. Tunnell is alleged to have been caught shoplifting by Macy’s security guards and was kicked out of the store. The suspect later returned to attack them with a knife.
Councilmembers praised the police for their work.
Council is looking at the possibility of passing a law to ban shoplifters with multiple offenses. But some have criticized the District Attorney for being too lenient on shoplifters.
The blueprint will also have recommendations related to a proposed Kensington Marshall Plan, introduced by Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, whose 7th District includes Kensington, an area that has been plagued for years by open air drug markets.
The Kensington Marshall Plan, named after the effort to rebuild Europe after World War II, would include coordination of funding and services, from city, state, federal and private health and safety organizations.
According to Jones, the blueprint will also be shared with the incoming Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. It will subsequently be shared with the person who will become the city’s Chief Public Safety Director, a newly created position by council, earlier this year.
“The perception of (crime in) Philly has people choosing King of Prussia,” Jones said. “It is not the Chamber of Commerce’s fault. It’s not just the police department’s fault. It’s all of our responsibility.”
