Friday, October 05, 2007

Morning Patrols

This week I've noticed a significant increase in the police presence around Shafer during morning drop-off (7:45 - 8:05).

Since I don't walk west into town, I'm not sure where else they are patrolling and I've not seen them on Tatamy Road, but it is nice to know that they have found a schedule/route that seems to address concerns made here and at Council meetings previously.

7 comments:

Karen Petersen Pasquel said...

Could you specify the concerns, perhaps I missed one of the blogs? Sorry to ask for repetition, but I have a child at Shafer and am interested. Thanks!

RossRN said...

My personal concern has been related to the ability of pedestrians to safely walk through town in general and moreover when I've got my children with me.

On numerous occasions I've witnessed cars running stop signs, not yielding to pedestrians, and driving through intersections with the crossing guard in the middle holding a stop sign (I've witnessed this last one three times).

This year I even watched/heard one car rear-end another as children were walking in the cross-walk at Liberty and Belvidere.

The other concerns that arose that I am familiar with was the student safety at Shafer because it is in the borough and people can walk around the building particularly when kids are outside at recess.

And more specific to HS was student dismissal and drug dealing from cars parked nearby.

Karen Petersen Pasquel said...

Thanks for updating me! I had no idea of these issues, but my hubby has complained about some of the car issues for drop-off (he drops our child off). I do notice the middle school often has police presence as I drive by on my way to work. As for the HS-Let's go people! Get some plate numbers and descriptions. If you see it -report it. Thanks again for the update!

SwimUSA said...

I drop my son off at the high school at 7:00 AM and I see cars running stop signs every morning.

I've also noticed police patrolling the area. I hope they continue to patrol the area throughout the school year.

Ross, you mentioned drug dealing from cars parked nearby? If it's that obvious, then why haven't there been any arrests? Does the HS still have a security guard on duty?

I hear the HS has drug problems, but it seems like the administration isn't really doing anything about it.

RossRN said...

I don't know if the school has a security guard or not.

The issue regarding the HS came up at a Council meeting at the end of last school year. For what it is worth several people in attendance indicated certain vehicles that they've seen on a regular basis that were not student's vehicles but waiting for students to get out and was obvious to them they were dealing drugs.

The issue of jurisdiction was discussed because the school is patrolled by Upper Nazareth police, but obviously Center Street and a good part of Liberty are in the Borough.

One request made at the time was to have Upper and Borough Police meet with School and other parties as deemed necessary to determine ways they could work together.

Since the borough only recently hired its chief, I'd imagine that never took place.

Karen Petersen Pasquel said...

You know that upsets me, again that jurisdiction has come into play to a degree. When I walked my son to kind. (in 2005) I complained (by phone) to police about the speeding cars down Liberty - I was told that part of Liberty St. is borough and part is Upper Naz. so they couldn't do anything about it. Why can't they work together?

Racer X said...

Simple solution. Park ANY cop car by the football field. Have said officer get OUT of car and walk around the block(s) - by SES and NAHS - a few times. Do this between 7:20 - 8:00 a.m and 2:20 -3:00 p.m. This will result in numerous citations for loitering and/or illegal use of tobacco, hence an increase in coffer(s) of said dept. (this could be rotated between UNPD and NPD). Hopefully new chief directs staff to be more visable to the youngsters and not shy away from those scary teens.