These are busy days,
police captain tells Mayfair

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

The Mayfair Civic Association discussed policing and other matters at last week’s monthly meeting.
The meeting was held in conjunction with a forum hosted by Capt. Frank Bachmayer, commander of the 15th Police District.
Bachmayer, a 27-year veteran who has been commander for a year and a half, said 15th district police responded to more than 140,000 incidents last year, making it the busiest district in the city. He is grateful for the support of the 11 Town Watch groups in the district.
The commander said Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey is considering a 311 non-emergency line to relieve pressure from the 911 system. He also explained that police officials are looking into the feasibility of changing district boundaries across the city.
The district includes 35 schools, he said, and officers are kept busy at dismissal at Frankford and Abraham Lincoln high schools.
There was a complaint about motorists parking at corners in the "X blocks," which are designed to allow drivers to see better at intersections.
Bachmayer acknowledged the problem but said he’d rather his officers respond to emergency calls than write tickets. He prefers voluntary compliance.
Scott Cummings, president of the civic group, suggested that neighbors can place a pre-printed note on windshields reminding the vehicle owners that they should not be parking in the box.
There were also complaints about speeding near St. Matthew School. Chris Vogler, the 55th Ward Republican leader who also heads the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s red light camera program, explained that legislation offered by state Rep. George Kenney that would install technology to ticket speeders is languishing in a House committee.
In response to a complaint about sexual offenders in neighborhoods, civic association legal counsel Joe DeFelice told residents to visit familywatchdog.us
Visitors to that Web site can click on "find offenders" and type in their street and ZIP code to find the identities of sexual offenders in their neighborhoods.
In other news from the March 31 meeting:
• The 15th Police District is raising money for the 2008 Police Athletic League Fund Drive.
PAL offers free educational, athletic and cultural programs, supervised by police officers.
Checks can be made payable to Police Athletic League and mailed or dropped off to 15th Police District, Attn: Community Relations Officer, 2831 Levick St., Philadelphia, PA 19149.
• The Mayfair Community Development Corporation will hold a beef-and-beer fund-raiser on Saturday, May 10, from 7 to 11 p.m., at the John M. Perzel Community Center, at 2990 St. Vincent St.
Money raised will go toward the children’s artistic tile program in the lobby of the former Devon Theater, which is being converted into a 500-seat live performing arts theater. The CDC hopes to open the theater by spring 2009.
Tickets cost $30 in advance and $35 at the door. There will be beer, wine, soda and food. Call 215-332-4414.
• Members observed a moment of silence for Marylee Otto, the 15-year-old girl killed in a March 28 hit-and-run accident on Rhawn Street, near Lexington Avenue.
• Camille Capobianco, a member of the Tacony Civic Association and a crusader against nuisance rental properties, circulated a petition calling for existing policies to be enforced to penalize absentee landlords whose properties are harming a neighborhood’s quality of life.
Capobianco, responding to complaints that area youths have nowhere to go and nothing to do, indicated that Tacony Civic Association is looking to see what the Archdiocese of Philadelphia plans to do with the St. Vincent’s Home, which will close at the end of June.
• Mayfair Civic Association will meet again on Monday, April 28, at 8 p.m., at the John M. Perzel Community Center. The 15th Police District Advisory Council will meet at 7 p.m. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com