Office Of The Mayor
Thomas M. McMahon


PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

For More Information:
Ginny Hand, 610-655-6234
Jatinder Khokhar, 610-655-6214

CITY OF READING INCREASES CODES TRAINING WITH MOCK TRIAL

February 9, 2006: City officials announced today that with the increases of additional codes department staff, Codes and the Fire Marshall’s office have participated in internal training culminating in a mock trial on Thursday a.m. February 9, 2006. This two day training exercise was designed by Legal Specialist Michelle Mayfield, Esq. and City of Reading Codes Manager Jatinder Khokhar.

Mr. Khokhar stated that “with the cooperation of President Judge Arthur Grim and the Magisterial District Justices in the City, we were able to put together a training session with a mock trial to better prepare our inspectors for courtroom experience. This should find positive results in prosecuting the offenders in our system.

Attorney James M. Polyak of Reading volunteered his time to act as defense attorney in the proceedings with Attorney Mayfield acting as prosecuting attorney. Magisterial District Justice Thomas H. Xavios presided over the mock trial and seasoned Codes Property Maintenance Inspectors Brian S. Craze and Kathy A. Reichart played the roles of codes officer and defendant, respectively.

Managing Director R. Leon Churchill said that the training is “designed to make our codes officers more prepared and responsive to the MDJ’s concerns, and ultimately better serve the needs of the community.”