Public Safety Discussion Group at Holy Innocents

A City That Works - May 5, 2008

Eleven people, mostly from Juniata and Kensington, were very articulate about crime's negative effects on the quality of life at the individual, family and neighborhood levels. Participants from Kensington felt strongly that language/cultural barriers added to the chances of being ignored or forgotten by the police.

Many participants were very vocal about the lack of police presence and long, long response times after calls to the police. Each person was willing and able to talk in the large group,and that willingness carried over into the small-groups discussing performance standards.  -- Moderator Elizabeth Perry

What does this goal mean to you?

• Walk safely after dark and get home safely.

• Stop flight from the city over safety concerns.

• Son fear of assault in their own neighborhood, so he goes further away to play (with greater traveling burden for his mother).

 • Walk safely in daytime(!); 18 year old can't walk to school safely.

 • Need good police response from 911.

 • Juniata has gone downhill. Park is drug haven, there is  killing in the park, and people  can't go to stores.

 • Town watches need respect and attention from police.

 • 911 use education needed for adults.

• Juniata -- safety deterioration. Children are mugging people.

• New residents leaving because of safety issues.

• Reduce loud music and dirt bikes. We need peace and quiet. Dirt bikes are not safe; they cause traffic accidents.

• What is the future for our children?  What will they learn? Keep them off the streets...

Performance measures (What would success look like?):

• Fewer murders, muggings, robberies  --  25 percent less for violent crimes.

• Visible police presence --  bike, foot patrol -- so people can find police, and police presence will discourage crime.

• Fewer guns, baseball bats, weapons  --  want a significant percentage drop.

• 911 response times must improve. Response time for car accidents needs to be reduced from two to three hours to one hour. The two to eight hour response time for assaults should be reduced 50 percent in the first year and 70 percent in the second.

• Police Radio Advisory Board:  Expand support.

• Need more people teaching community organizations how to use 911.

• Public Service TV spots for 911 use.

• Teach how to get 911 agent's operator number.

• Police educated to deal with domestic violence (focus -- Kensington). Police provide pamphlets with phone numbers and shelter information.

• More kids playing in parks and streets would be a clear sign of success; need more youth programs.

Customer-service standards:

• “No voicemail limbo; call backs in 1/2 hour

• "Secret shoppers" call 911 for quality control.

• Have Triple A (AAA) train 911 agents.

• Evaluation of recorded 911 calls by outside agency.

• Municipal calls with tracking numbers.

• All city employees have list of valid service phone numbers.

• Real knowledge -- no false leads.

• Improve/simplify "www.phila.gov"

• People-friendly Web site -- no 'error' reports.

• E-mail response in one day.

• Don't make people lose work day to go downtown.