Local police pay tribute
to one of their own

By Diane Villano-Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Members of the 15th Police District Advisory Council were updated last week on various memorial tributes to observe the one-year anniversary of the slaying of Gary Skerski, who was the district’s community relations officer.
Skerski was on duty when he was shot to death on May 8 while responding to reports of an armed robbery at Pat’s Café in Northwood. The robber shot Skerski at close range as the policeman entered the bar through a rear door of the tavern.
Ten days later, police apprehended the suspect, Solomon Montgomery, who was charged with murder and currently awaits trial.
During last week’s 15th PDAC meeting at the John Perzel Community Center in Mayfair, Capt. Frank Bachmayer, commander of the police district, outlined some of the tributes to Skerski, an officer highly regarded by both peers and the community organizations that he worked with in his duties as a police liaison.
Memorial events have included a tribute last month at the Smedley School in Frankford, and a Living Flame Memorial Service in Franklin Square last week. The state Fraternal Order of Police and the city’s Lodge 5 chapter have saluted Skerski’s service; police officers from various agencies, meanwhile, left from 15th district headquarters on Wednesday to start a four-day memorial bike rally to Washington, D.C.
On Sunday, Skerski’s name will be officially added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.
The Citizens Crime Commission will pay tribute to Skerski on May 16. Three events also are scheduled for Saturday May 19, including the Officer Gary Skerski Memorial Golf Outing, at the John F. Byrne Golf Club in Torresdale, and a tree-planting at 7000 Keystone St. in Tacony.
In other business during the meeting, it was announced that members of the 15th PDAC, along with police and police clergy, will seek community feedback on Tuesday, May 22, along the 3100 block of Barnett St. and Sterling Street as part of a crime-prevention initiative Bachmayer had used during his previous days of commanding the 25th district.
"We target the location due to violence. We’re trying to be more proactive," Bachmayer said.
PDAC vice president Nancy Doerr also invited members of the council to become volunteers at the 15th district curfew center, which recently opened at the Frankford Group Ministry, 4620 Griscom St.
Staffed by city and private social workers, along with community volunteers, it is the sixth curfew center now open in the city as part of Mayor John Street’s Operation Safer Streets initiative.
Doerr volunteered during the center’s first weekend and reported that police brought in 47 children who had stayed out late enough to violate curfew laws.
The public can explore volunteer opportunities by calling 215-683-5770.
In other business, Officer David Pinkerton was named the district’s Officer of the Month for March.
He was recognized for making 18 felony arrests in one month, including apprehensions for sevens robberies, four cases of aggravated assault and four burglaries.
Pinkerton joined the police department in 1994, serving in the 15th district until 1997, when he joined the Narcotics Strike Force. In July 2006, Pinkerton volunteered to come back to the 15th. He received awards from PDAC and representatives of City Councilmen James Kenney (D-at large) and Dan Savage (D-7th dist).
Doerr also presented him with an award on behalf of state Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-2nd dist). ••
Reporter Diane Villano-Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com