Feeling safe on the
streets of Frankford

By Diane Villano
Times Staff Writer

Frankford business owners, officials from the 15th Police District and SEPTA’s police unit, City Councilman Dan Savage, aides to state Sen. Tina Tartaglione and state Rep. Tony Payton, and Frankford school principals were among 20 people gathered for a March 21 summit on crime and safety in Frankford.
The event was moderated by Terry Tobin, executive director of the New Frankford Y and a board member of several Frankford organizations.
According to Tobin, the summit was born from a conversation with Savage about revitalization efforts and Frankford’s two biggest problems — crime and safety and the perception that Frankford is not safe.
Tobin recognizes that resolving those issues is a tremendous undertaking, and won’t be accomplished in one or two meetings — more likely one or two years. However, Tobin and other community stakeholders feel that for the first time in a while, they have strong political support in every arena.
Savage grew up in Frankford and still lives there, as does Payton (D-179th dist). Tobin also recognized the support of Tartaglione (D-2nd dist.) and vowed that community leaders will pay a visit to the winner of the mayor’s race in November.
"Communication is key," said Savage (D-7th dist.)
While calling the police to report criminal activity should always be the first option, the reality is that some people don’t call for fear of retaliation. For those people, Savage’s chief of staff, Liz McCollom Nazaria, advised constituents to call the councilman’s office at 215-686-3448. Emergencies should always be called into 911.
The councilman announced that his office sent a letter to Mayor John Street asking for a video camera to be installed at Frankford Avenue and Foulkrod Street, a corner suggested by 15th district Capt. Frank Bachmayer. Others are also requested along Frankford Avenue at intersections including Cottman Avenue, Bridge, Pratt and Arrott streets, according to Bachmayer.
The councilman did not have a timetable for installation.
"Cameras serve as a witness that can’t be intimidated," Bachmayer said.
Last year, Street’s spokesman Joe Grace likened the surveillance cameras to a virtual Town Watch.
A Town Watch is one thing Bachmayer would like to see in Frankford, at the lower end of the 15th district — the largest and busiest police district in the city.
"We run from job to job," Bachmayer said.
Despite its 8.5 square miles and busy 911 calls, the 15th district is down 19 officers since 2006, according to police statistics presented by the councilman.
Still, so far this year, total violent crime is down in the entire district, from 423 incidents to 346 incidents. Property crime is down from 802 to 743. Shooting incidents are down from 32 to 22 and shooting victims from 24 to 15.
While Tobin said he still isn’t happy with the numbers, "The good news is that it’s heading in the right direction," he said.
Since Bachmayer’s arrival in the 15th district in August, he’s focused on addressing quality-of-life issues such as truancy and curfew violations.
"It’s not the most violent [district] but it’s the most busy. If you do the little things, other things go away," he said.
Group members agreed to meet again in May, when they’ll plan on organizing committees and working toward a plan of action to combat crime in Frankford. ••