PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel has released the department’s five-year safety plan, as violent crime has fallen to historic lows.
The 74-page plan aims to continue to drive down crime, modernize policing through data and technology, invest in and support officers and staff, and strengthen community trust, which includes a new youth advisory council that has face-to-face meetings with police leaders.
The focus remains on public safety, but also on helping neighborhoods thrive. Bethel is assigning quality-of-life officers to each district.
“The quality-of-life officer will be laser-focused on those day-to-day quality-of-life [issues], those systemic issues that plagued our communities,” he said.
The police department has upgraded its training, with more frequent scenario-based training and greater focus on responding to people in crises. And, Philadelphians will soon be able to join a new police auxiliary program, allowing volunteers to help at community events and other programs.
“They are not replacing the work of police officers; they are not carrying guns,” Bethel said. “They come in, they wear a uniform. They will be out there supporting us when we are doing events, community events. There are a plethora of things they can do as we build it out that support the police department but do not take away jobs.”
More than 200 people actively participated in the new strategies, with additional input from more than 2,500 citizens across the city. Dave Zega, executive director for strategic planning, said for the first time, officers at every level of the department helped shape it.
“We had people who were out on patrol sitting in conference rooms with command staff debating and discussing what they think we needed for the department moving forward,” he said.
The full five-year plan is available below.
