15th PDAC meeting
honors two officers

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Officers Jeffrey Cahill and William Smith were recognized as the September Officers of the Month at last week’s 15th Police District Advisory Council meeting. The officers had apprehended two of four suspects that were later identified as robbing a Wachovia Bank branch at 7157 Frankford Ave. on Sept. 10.
"It was an excellent job," said 15th district commander Capt. Frank Bachmayer.
According to Bachmayer, Cahill observed a red vehicle matching a description given by police radio. When he exited his own car after pulling the vehicle over at Tyson and Battersby avenues, the driver took off and struck a stop sign at 300 Tyson Ave. in Burholme, where four men fled from the car. Cahill and Smith pursued them on foot. Cahill apprehended one, with the assistance of the 2nd district, and Smith apprehended a second suspect. The other two were apprehended by officers from the 2nd and 15th districts and the major crimes unit.
One semiautomatic handgun, U.S. currency from the bank and a purse belonging to a bank customer were recovered. The four were charged with numerous counts of robbery, aggravated assault, violations of the uniform firearm act and other related charges.
Bachmayer also applauded the efforts of 15th district community relations officer Sharon Krause and PDAC vice president Nancy Doerr on the PDAC’s first community day, which was held Oct. 6.
He also gave PDAC members an update on district crime statistics. Overall, violent crime is down by 7 percent, property crime down by 5 percent, shooting victims down by 24 percent. Quality-of-life arrests are up by 64 percent, curfew arrests by 103 percent, and truancy arrests by 54 percent.
"It’s excellent police work. It’s not just reactive to the 911 system," Bachmayer said.
In other business, the PDAC is putting a call out for volunteers and donations for the annual police district holiday dinner. Sponsored by the 15th PDAC, a holiday dinner will be served to officers from the 2nd and 15th police districts along with the Northeast Detectives Division. The buffet dinner will be available to police at district headquarters, Harbison Avenue and Levick Street, from 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 15, to 2 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 16, in order to cover all of the shifts.
Donation checks can be made payable to the 15th Police District Holiday Dinner, and sent by Dec. 4 to P.O. Box 52787, Philadelphia, PA 19115.
For more information on donating refreshments, gift certificates, tokens of appreciation, or volunteering in another way, call 215-776-6777. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com