Office Of The Mayor
Thomas M. McMahon
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
For More Information:
Ginny Hand , 610-655-6234
POLICE CHIEF WILLIAM HEIM DETAILS
CRIME REDUCTION PLAN FOR CITY OF READING
For immediate release/April 4, 2006: City of Reading
Police Chief William L. Heim outlined his ten point strategy
for reducing crime in a press conference held in Council
Chambers of City Hall this morning. Heim, in presenting
the plan which Mayor Tom McMahon called for in his State
of the City within sixty days of his new Chief taking
command, spoke of his preliminary observations of the
department and his plan to increase accountability and
communication throughout every level of the RPD. His plan
includes an adoption of community- policing problem solving
philosophies and responsibility for more functions at
the platoon and patrol levels for decision making.
“By creating teams of patrol officers, investigators
and supervisors working together in specific geographic
regions, these teams can learn their policing district
and create a shared vision for safety and security in
our neighborhoods. We intend to empower these teams from
the ground up to make decisions and proactively solve
problems on our streets,” Heim stated.
Heim announced several new measures which the department
will use to survey data and increase intelligence to combat
crime. Several of these measures were the use of camera
technology to transmit signals to a monitoring station
to view the downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods;
a public safety research institute, using the talents
of the local colleges and universities to lead research
and best practices for the department and a landlord proficiency
program which helps educate landlords on ways to reduce
destruction, drug activity and disorder in and around
their properties.
Mayor Tom McMahon commented that “it is clear that
crime is the number one priority in this administration
and it is also clear that Chief Heim plans to address
not only the violent crimes in our city but the smaller
quality of life violations which disrupt citizens’
lives. We plan to use all avenues and explore partnerships
and resources to help Chief Heim make this happen.”
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