Authorizing the Committee on Appropriations to hold hearings to determine whether an additional appropriation is necessary to fund the expansion of the Police Department's Neighborhood Services Unit.

WHEREAS, The Police Department of the City of Philadelphia has embarked on a number of initiatives to decrease major crimes, including the implementation Operation Safe Streets; and

WHEREAS, Although these ideas have experienced varying degrees of success, the projects do not address what the department refers to as “low priority” crimes; and

WHEREAS, An increasing number of residents, businesses and community groups have expressed extreme concern with the response, handling and treatment of these crimes due to the deployment of district officers responding to more serious crimes; and

WHEREAS, All taxpaying residents of the City of Philadelphia have an equal right to police protection and response, regardless of category of crime; and

WHEREAS, Even though these crimes may not be considered major/part 1 crimes when compiling crime statistics, these types of issues are greatly affecting the quality of life for many residents in Northeast Philadelphia and throughout the City; and

WHEREAS, The Neighborhood Services Unit of the Police Department has been a tremendous help in addressing issues affecting residents’ quality of life, which include, but are not limited to, graffiti, vandalism, loitering, short dumping and petty theft; and

WHEREAS, The assignment of personnel from NSU to respond to and investigate these crimes on an as-needed basis would be a welcome relief to both residents and district officers; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Appropriations be authorized to hold hearings to determine whether an additional appropriation is necessary to fund the expansion of the Police Department’s Neighborhood Services Unit to assist district police officers in the response, handling and treatment of “low priority” crimes.

End