By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer
If Philadelphia Police Capt. Joseph Zaffino didn’t know every nook and cranny of the 7th district before taking over there as commander this summer, it didn’t take him long to learn them.
Zaffino, 47, barely had enough time to settle into the job before a local burglary suspect with an apparent affinity for nature led the captain and his officers on a multi-day wild goose chase through the woods, wetlands and railway beds of the district and neighboring suburbs.
Eventually, Zaffino and his officers, with the help of suburban cops and those from Philadelphia’s own special units, hunted down the young man suspected in a string of home and automobile break-ins.
The episode confirmed for Zaffino — a one-time sergeant in the district —that the 7th is not a place where senior officers go to kick back for their last few years before retirement. Rather, despite its reputation as one of the "quietest" sections in the city, the district is full of young, enthusiastic officers ready to combat crime in whatever form it takes.
"We chased him for three days on foot," Zaffino said of efforts to capture the elusive 21-year-old. "He was barefoot living in the woods at the (north end) of the district. He was like Rambo."
In July, Zaffino became the permanent replacement for Capt. Aloysius Martin, who retired in April. Staff Inspector Theresa Young served as the interim boss. The district is the area of the city west of Roosevelt Boulevard and north of Rhawn Street.
A burglary problem coincided with the captain’s arrival with a rash of similar break-ins in the northernmost corner of the district, near Buxmont Avenue and County Line Road.
With the help of information from witnesses and neighbors, police identified the suspect as 21-year-old Matthew Foulke.
But nabbing him was not so easy.
Armed with a description, police first spotted Foulke on the 14100 block of Bustleton Ave. on July 24. But the suspect allegedly escaped on foot after assaulting an officer. Police believe he was spending much of his time on the grounds of the former Somerton Springs golf course, where a residential development is planned.
Over the next two days, there were several more sightings, Zaffino said, but the suspect routinely avoided capture by sprinting into thicket wearing only a T-shirt and pants.
Zaffino contacted suburban authorities, including officials in Lower Southampton, to coordinate efforts. Also, Philadelphia’s canine and aviation units joined the search.
Foulke used a bicycle to travel from place to place, police believe. But he lost the bike during one pursuit, Zaffino said. Soon after, police received a report of a stolen bike nearby.
Finally, on July 26, Philly police followed the suspect into Lower Moreland, where they arrested him at 546 Philmont Ave., Zaffino said.
Foulke has been charged with more than a half-dozen residential burglaries, as well as several thefts from autos, the bike theft and assaulting a police officer. He awaits a preliminary hearing.
Zaffino was impressed with the diligence shown by 7th district officers in the case. He doesn’t ask anything less of himself.
"I still get in my car and I get out (on the street)," the captain said. "If I need to be in a foot pursuit with my officers, I’ll be right behind them."
The Father Judge High School graduate has spent almost all of his 26 years on the force in patrol.
He was first assigned to a district in South Philly, before earning a promotion to sergeant and being assigned to the 7th district under then-commander Capt. Ed Kachigan. That was about 10 years ago.
From there, he moved to West Philadelphia, then returned to the Northeast as a lieutenant in the 15th district.
His first assignment as a captain was in Police Radio. He then spent two and a half years as commander of the 4th district in South Philly. Then it was back to the 7th.
"Geographically, I hit the ground running when I got here," he said. "I knew exactly where any problem areas were, because they haven’t changed.
"Compared to ten years ago, crime (in the district) has definitely increased. But we’re also combating it with some young, enthusiastic officers."
On the other hand, the nature of crime in the district has changed little since Zaffino’s first stint there.
"It seems to be more quality-of-life crimes we’re combating up here," he said. "Our problems up here have always been thefts from autos, stolen autos and burglaries."
Officers are also on a constant lookout for underage drinking in wooded areas, along with drag racing on public streets.
Zaffino plans to take advantage of many community partnerships to strengthen the police’s understanding of the district and its needs.
"We have many, many active groups in the district," he said. "We recognize each other from ten years ago when I was a sergeant, but now as captain, I’m going to be very active with them." ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com