Police captain want folks
to keep a lid on block parties

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Capt. Frank Bachmayer is not bullish on block parties these days.
While the district commander told the 15th Police District Advisory Council members that he can enjoy a party as much as the next guy, he’s had it with block parties that get out of control.
Partiers on the 3100 block of St. Vincent St., he’s talking about you.
"If we have to be called out for disturbances, underage drinking, aggravated assault, we’re closing down your block party," Bachmayer said.
Not only will he close you down, but you can forget about getting another permit for a party anytime soon. The people whose names are on the permit are responsible for what happens on the street. It’s their job to supervise it.
According to the captain, most of the 15th district police wound up at the St. Vincent Street affair.
"It’s total, total nonsense...We have more important things to do," he said.
Addressing quality-of-life issues is at the forefront of that list, which not only includes truancy and curfew violations but safety as well.
Bachmayer will institute safety zones around schools in the 15th district. This month, drivers will see an increased police presence a couple of times a week, as officers will be enforcing motor vehicle violations and parking violations.
Parents dropping off and picking up their children also should take heed. Police will be enforcing double-parking violations.
In other business, the PDAC recognized Officers Cedric Carter and James Putro as the July Officers of the Month.
The officers are assigned to the 5 Squad and have proved to be leaders, Bachmayer said.
On July 26, while responding to the call of a shooting, they observed two males walking in the area. One man grabbed at his side. Upon seeing a gun, they began chasing him and watched him take off his shirt and toss it to the ground. After a short pursuit on foot, the officers apprehended the man and retrieved the shirt, which had a .32-caliber handgun wrapped inside of it with five live rounds. Also recovered from the subject were eight bags of marijuana.
The officers also had two other aggravated-assault-with-a-handgun arrests in July. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com