Robberies with guns have dropped 13 percent in the 15th Police District, Capt. Frank Bachmayer told members of the 15th Police District Advisory Council during their recent meeting in the John M. Perzel Community Center.
Arrests for that crime have risen 65 percent, he said.
Strong-arm robberies have increased 3 percent and arrests have gone up 29 percent. Property crimes have gone up 22 percent and arrests for those crimes are up 53 percent.
The district will conduct a gun buy-back program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at St. Joachim’s R.C. Church on the 1500 block of Church St. Anyone who turns in a firearm will get a $50 gift certificate to Shop Rite, Bachmayer said.
During their August meeting, PDAC members honored four officers for outstanding efforts in June and July. PDAC members lauded Stanley Galiczynski and Cedric Carter as officers of the month for June, and similarly praised officers Donald Hollaway and Louis Ortiz as officers of the month for July.
On June 18, Carter and Galiczynski apprehended Ishmir Smith as the suspect who robbed and pepper-sprayed a woman at Frankford and Dyre streets the day before. Smith, now in custody, was charged with theft, assault and drug-related offenses. Police said they found 21 packets of marijuana in Smith’s possession when they stopped him.
On June 29, Galiczynski and Carter also apprehended Brandon Watts as one of three suspects who robbed a victim of $50 on Unity Street and fled on bicycles. Police said Watts, who allegedly tossed a bag filled with marijuama packets during a foot chase, was identified by the victim as a gunman. He was charged with theft, burglary, robbery, criminal conspiracy, drug offenses and weapons violations.
On July 23, officers Hollaway and Ortiz rescued several people from the roof of a burning Cottage Street home. The officers borrowed a neighbor’s ladder and climbed to the roof to help the people to safety.
The PDAC’s next meeting will be 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, at the Perzel Center, 2990 St. Vincent St. ••
