15th District Capt. Frank Bachmayer talks to an unusually small crowd at the March Holmesburg Civic Association meeting.

Captain Frank Bachmayer has 28 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, including his eight as captain.

And his message to residents who attended last night’s Holmesburg Civic Association is something he made sure to hammer home: the 15th District is “not the old district of 10 years ago.”

Meaning, he explained, that the busy district has its share of crime — more than just the quality of life issues some residents focus on.

Bachmayer told the 15 meeting attendees (an unusually small crowd for the HCA) that the 15th is the busiest and most populated district in Philadelphia, leading the city in robberies.  “And it’s not just in Frankford,” he emphasized. continue reading »

Lt. Bugieda of the 15th District introduces four officer, with more than 20 years of experience among them.

In honor of the Philadelphia Police Department’s PSA Week, Mayfair Town Watch hosted one of several meetings in the Northeast last night.

More than 15 people, six police officers, two politicians and other town watch presidents came together at the John Perzel Community Center Wednesday night to host a meeting for the 15th District’s Police Service Area 2.

Just one of many PSA meetings throughout the region, the purpose was to bring together all factions of the community — residents, business owners, police officers and elected officials — to unite the neighborhoods in the hopes of improving them.

“We want to stabilize neighborhoods,” Lt. Bugieda, who oversees PSA2, said. “[The community] plays a critical role there.”

In the video below, Bugieda lists the boundaries of the District’s PSA zones. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Aquan Spearman will soon go to trial after being charged with the sexual assault of three eighth-grade girls from Cooke Middle School one year ago. The assaults took place in December 2007 and January 2008, though Spearman is still awaiting trail for committing statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl in June 2006 in the Northeast.

Keep reading for news on a Washington High football player, police news and more. continue reading »

Mayfair Town Watch began 2010 by announcing it will host an open meeting Jan. 20 to mark the beginning of PSAs in the 15th District.

At their first meeting of 2010, Mayfair Town Watch members — along with 15th District Lt. Bugieda — discussed the upcoming implementation of Police Service Areas in the district. To mark the occasion, the Town Watch will hold an open meeting Wednesday, Jan. 20 for police officers, politicians and local businesses owners to meet one another. All in the name of community relations. continue reading »

Q: I am looking for a home to buy in Northeast Philadelphia but I am worried about who my neighbors will end up being. Is there a place to research neighborhoods for sex offenders? How about crime statistics?

A: It is not that difficult to find a house for sale you’ll love. The market supply is plentiful, and prices, mortgage rates and tax incentives make it the perfect storm to buy. But what if the neighbors turn out to be a problem, or it’s next door to a sex offender? Luckily Megan’s Law requires sex offenders to register their addresses, but the research falls on you. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Worth the read

Vandals broke into police property twice this week, causing $20,000 in damage. The vandals targeted the Blue Flames field house, the home of the police and firefighters’ sports teams, pouring bleach and lighter fluid on the uniforms, and leaving graffiti behind. Authorities said the vandals entered by breaking a hole into the roof.

The Cottman-Frankford hub in Mayfair is among the three intersections that will see beefed-up security as the Phillies advance into the playoffs, and possibly (hopefully) the World Series. The other two intersections, which are part of the department’s zero tolerance approach to out-of-hand celebrations, are Broad and Snyder in South Philly and Broad and Walnut in Center City.

A small police museum will take form over the next month, to be displayed in the lobby of Police Headquarters at Eighth and Race streets. The main feature will be a 42-inch touchscreen featuring photos and videos, in addition to digital photographs, new display cases and a Web site. The museum will be open for tours.

Sports news, young Phillies fans and more below continue reading »

In honor of Police Appreciation Month, many area businesses are donating partial proceeds from their sales to the Philadelphia Police Foundation.

The foundation pays for police items not covered by the city budget, like Segways, batons and firearms. Several businesses in the Reading Terminal Market are participating, but today through Oct. 3, when you buy a suit, blazer or jacket at Boyd’s, $10 from each sale will go to the Philadelphia Police Foundation.

To donate or find out more about the foundation, go to its Web site.

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Bail has been set for the three adults charged with the murder of 57-year-old Lyudmila Burshteyn, whose body was found in the woods in New Jersey earlier this month. One suspect’s bail is set at $2 million, and the other men’s bails are set at $1 million each.

Continue reading for a ruling in the Valley Swim Club case, an update in the Hero Thrill Show and more. continue reading »

Mayor Nutter addressing a $700 million budget shortfall in Mayfair in front of the 2nd and 15th police district headquarters.

By Christopher Wink

Speaking in front of more than two dozen uniformed police officers and nearly as many firefighters and other officials from the city’s emergency services, Mayor Nutter yesterday heightened pressure on state legislators to “give Philadelphia the tools it needs to help itself.”

“If our General Assembly does not approve the two budget measures we’ve asked for — a temporary increase in the city sales tax and a variety of pension reforms — we will be faced with no choice but to implement a series of devastating cuts,” Nutter said outside the 2nd and 15th police district headquarters on Levick Street near Harbison Avenue in West Mayfair. “Cuts that will impact every neighborhood in Philadelphia, including right here in the Northeast.”

In May, City Council approved a balance budget that depended on those two provisions that need legislative approval: bumping up one percent the city’s sales tax for five years and re-amortizing the city’s pension system by pausing payments for two years and redistributing payments over 25 years instead of 20. Without those options, Nutter said they’ll have to revisit trying to close a $700 million budget shortfall.

At yesterday’s rally, Nutter focused on what that would do to Philadelphia generally and the Northeast specifically, a region of the city known for its communities of cops and firefighters.

continue reading »

Paul Schlear, of the Northeast, admitted to CBS3 yesterday that he has posed as a Catholic priest.

By Christopher Wink

The man who posed as a priest to comfort the family of a Philadelphia police officer seriously injured in a car crash last month is from the Northeast.

NEast Philly hasn’t yet independently confirmed what neighborhood he calls home, but Paul Schlear, 26, dressed as and referred to himself as a local Catholic priest to enter the intensive-care unit at the Torresdale campus of the old Frankford hospital to visit the family of Officer Richard Hayes, as reported by CBS3.

“I feel terrible for the Hayes family because they’re going through enough and I didn’t nee to do what I did,” he told CBS3.

continue reading »