SUMMER SECURITY PATROL

Hello Neighbors!

As many of you know we have been up against an increase of crime in our beautiful neighborhood. From multiple broken car windshields, bricks hurled through windows, aggressive panhandlers, open-air drug use in and around Head House Square and even more frightening, we recently had 2 different parents attacked by a man while walking with their children. This is all on top of the shootings on South Street, Penn's Landing and right at the corner of 3rd and Delancey, all in the last year. As our police force struggles with a manpower shortage, we find ourselves at a crossroads as a community that must stand together and do our part.

As many of you know from our email blasts, we have proposed hiring Private Security for the Summer months to act as an extra set of Eyes and Ears as well as be a strong, visual deterrent for anyone up to no good.

Below is the proposal for the patrol:

-A highly trained security guard(s) in a patrol car with the Security logo on the side of the vehicle will patrol our streets.

-The shift will be Friday (Originally Thursday), Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 pm to 3:30 am from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

-The Security team is fully insured, licensed and bonded.

-Security will be working directly with our local law enforcement as part of their patrol.

-Once hired, we plan to set up a community meet and greet, so you all have a chance to meet them.

-We have decided they will be unarmed to place everyone's mind at ease but to clarify they are NOT meant to engage anyone. They are meant to be a visual deterrent combined with the Summer Police Patrol we requested (and have been granted) by the South Street detail. If Security encounters any illegal activity, they will immediately contact the police but having them patrolling our streets will certainly make a big difference.

-The proposed streets for the patrol are Front to 5th, Spruce to Lombard, the streets in between this area and Head House Square.

-There will be bi-weekly reports provided to DSTW, which we will share in our email blasts.

-The contract will be between the Town Watch and the Security Company.

We have had neighbors and businesses via email who have said they'd commit anywhere from $75 to as high as $3000 and everything in between. Any amount will be appreciated so please donate today!

As a reminder, this is not a new idea. Not only did our neighbors in Old City Biz District hire Security for foot patrol, but below you will find 2 more articles about neighborhoods that have also hired private security. The bottom line is, Public Safety & Crime Prevention is Everyone's Responsibility!

https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/italian-market-security-guards-looting-protests-philadelphia-manayunk-20200603.html

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/temple-university-private-security-campus-safety-20220303.html

Sincerely,

Joe & Steve

Delancey Square Town Watch