When the police came both times they apologized because of the length of time it took them to get here.
After listening to the feeds for a few weeks we are clearly aware of what the police was telling us is true.
PPL had a contractor down here for weeks putting new power lines in. They observed individuals using drugs and having sex. I said I can call the police however by the time some one is free to come those committing the crimes are gone now. We have a new Police Station at 10 and Hamilton, the next week a man was stabbed on the same corner as the Police station, then a business was broken into at 1033 Hamilton and the Officers were able to walk to the break in.
In the last few years Allentown has had a large migration of people from NY, NJ and PR. I attended a POLICE ACADEMY FOR CITIZENS COURSE. It was set up by the State Police, local Police departments the DAs for two counties and others. It was once a week for 6-8 weeks I believe.
They now have a multi county Gang Task Force in cooperation with State and Federal Agencies. Allentown has become along with Bethlehem a part of a territorial gang fight for control of drugs and the transport to larger cities.
They have a Task Force set up for stolen cars as well. It was really some course, gangs, drugs, stolen cars and parts are all connected to the huge migration of thugs from NY, NJ and PR. Most of the crimes are directly linked to these arrivals and gangs.
I was volunteering at our local elementary school in the 1st and 2nd grades. The Gang Task Force Director illustrated some of the hand signals. He said the gangs are recruiting kids for the gangs like the Boy Scouts had Cub Scouts. We had children in the Second Grade using some of the hand signals he illustrated. He told the teachers that this has to be reported and kept under observation. They were to try to find out who and how they were learning the signals. In some children it is a game and they have no idea what they are getting into.
The Director of the STOLEN cars and parts Task Force told us how they watched a Van coming down from Reading once a month. He said it usually held 4 or 5 males who filled the van with stolen parts, then once they each came back to the parking spaces behind the Wm Allen Stadium with a complete car. When they stopped the gang it had the van filled with 4 stolen cars lined up to drive back to Reading.
If you can get into the course at the Lehigh Co. Center it is very informative and you find out just how serious crime is spreading to any major Pennsylvania city now. In the Western Part of PA a lot of crime and criminals are moving in from Baltimore. Plus all the cities have the same problem a shortage of funds to hire more police.
Some of you must hear the Dispatcher telling responding officers they will send back up and soon as another officer is free. Sometime that ask is anyone free to back up Officer so and so at whatever. Sending police out on some of these calls is dangerous but we don't have enough police.
I wrote the Governors Office about using the PA National Guard to help with walking patrols or car mates with police. The Governors' Office said they are looking at this the stumbling point is the mayor has to request the National Guard. If a mayor requests them he is admitting his city has a real problem and none of the mayors are willing to do that at this time.