Philly Behind 40% Of Bensalem Crimes, Safety Director Says

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A memo from Bensalem's director of public safety states that 40 percent of the township's crimes come from Philadelphia.

William McVey penned a memo that discusses Philadelphia's impact on crime in the suburbs, which he said continues to rise in Bensalem Township.

"In Bensalem Township, roughly 40 percent of our arrestees are residents of Philadelphia. This is a 10 percent spike from just three years ago," McVey said. "This proves the escalating problems of Philadelphia are the problems of our suburban communities. We in the suburbs are hopeful that the City of Philadelphia will work to fix the broken practices that are making us all less safe."

Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo, who has served in the position for 30 years, told Patch he believes the figure is higher.

"That's being modest, 40 percent. I think it's higher," Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo said. "I'm going to build a wall."

Over the past few years, McVey said there have been many changes in policing, the criminal justice system, and the law.

He said some positive changes include: the professionalization of police departments through accreditation, policy updates on the use of force, the adoption of body-worn cameras, updated Internal Investigation protocols, and the enactment of a statewide database for terminated officers.

Those practices allow communities to hold their police departments accountable and ensure they are up to date on the most effective police protocols. Most of all, communities should know their police department is doing everything it can to protect its citizens, McVey wrote.

"What we have seen play out in the City of Philadelphia is one example of many across this country where the police, who are entrusted to protect and serve, are stripped of their ability to effectively keep people safe through proactive measures, said McVey, a 25-year police veteran, is an executive board member of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, and Bucks County Chiefs of Police Association.

He said the three main factors contributing to this are the Driver’s Equity Act, a dysfunctional District Attorney’s Office, and a lack of political leadership.

The Driver’s Equity Act bars police officers in Philadelphia from stopping vehicles for certain “minor” motor vehicle offenses. It is common knowledge that criminals travel in vehicles that are unregistered, uninspected, or have equipment violations.

These traffic stops are a vital part of keeping roadways safe but more importantly, they at times lead to the discovery of drugs, guns, and warrant arrests. These traffic stops prevent crimes from occurring and people from being victimized, McVey added.

"In Bensalem Township, like other border towns, we have seen firsthand how the Driver’s Equity Act has led to more guns being discovered on traffic stops with convicted felons than ever before," McVey said. These stops are for minor offenses where a police officer was able to remove a gun from the street from a convicted felon because he or she was allowed to do their job. Criminals drive through Philadelphia with impunity. Imagine how many weapons would be seized if Philadelphia officers were allowed to do the job they signed up for. How many shootings or murders could be prevented?"

McVey mentioned a recent incident in Abington Township where a suspect out on bail in Philadelphia, attempted to abduct a teen at the Willow Grove Mall.

Police Chief Pat Molloy’s comment on that incident “This here is a disgrace and we need to do a better job, the system failed” was an accurate assessment, McVey stated.

Molloy’s frustration is shared by many police chiefs across the region, especially those that
border Philadelphia.

Suburban chiefs from the region can provide numerous examples of the effects of bail reform, McVey said. He also added that an "alarming number" of city police officers are leaving for jobs in suburban police departments.

"In fact, many of our finest suburban officers have come from Philadelphia. Philly’s loss is our gain in this respect, but this will eventually have a negative impact on the Philadelphia Police Department with so much talent leaving," McVey said.

Lastly, leadership matters, McVey states.

He said the main role of elected government leaders is to keep their citizens safe.

"This is a huge responsibility and one that should be every elected official’s priority," McVey said. "With record-breaking murders and shootings in the city, it is time to stop the violence. The police officers in the city do a tremendous job on a daily basis and put themselves in harm’s way to protect those they serve. They deserve support, they should be empowered to do their job, and most importantly, they should feel their city has their back. Public safety was the priority in the recent Philadelphia mayoral race and we would all benefit if the next mayor shifts away from the current practices and cracks down on crime."

McVey credits DiGirolamo with making public safety the top priority in the township. He also credited Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub for holding criminals accountable.

"The safety and well-being of our community comes first," the mayor said. "We give the police department all the tools they need and have a leader who does a tremendous job. I'm behind them 100 percent."