RE: [UC] Thanks to officers of the 18th District

2008-04-03 Thread Theresa 
Over 10 years ago, my sister was traveling through Philadelphia, on her way
home from college.  Her car was filled with books, seemingly non-desirable
to a thief.  But when she went to look for her car the next morning, it was
gone.  We called the police and they located the car.  They asked if she had
a spare key in the car.  She did not.  The thief broke one of the windows
but somehow had a key that would start the car.  She was very grateful to
get her car back (with all her books)and asked if she could express her
gratitude in a monetary way.  They suggested a donation to the fund for
bullet-proof vests for police officers, to which she made an immediate
contribution.  Of course, there are lessons to be learned about leaving a
car totally empty, and for recognizing that there are "universal" keys out
there (so a crook-hook is not a bad idea), but also for publicly
acknowledging the work that our police officers do, such as the letter that
was written

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 2:02 PM
To: univcity@list.purple.com
Subject: [UC] Thanks to officers of the 18th District


Some of you may have seen my frantic ALERT post on Phillyblog this morning
regarding a motorcycle I had stolen out of my front yard at 51st and Osage. 
The thief was apprehended quickly at 49th and Pine, thanks to the
professional
work of a group of officers.  Here's what I wrote to Captain Clark (and
Commissioner Ramsey):

Captain Clark
18th Police District
5510 Pine St.
Philadelphia, PA 19143

Dear Captain Clark,

I am writing to commend a group of your officers from the 18th District.

On Thursday April 3rd, at about 9:45 am I was returning from walking my dog
in
Malcolm X Park at 51st and Osage when I saw a man pushing a motorcycle
around
the corner from 51st St. east onto Osage.  As I got closer to my house, I
realized it was MY motorcycle, and that the man had expended great effort to
drag it down the front steps from my yard.  I was furious and wanted to run
after him, but I put my dog inside and called 911.
The dispatcher was extremely prompt, calmed me down and got the necessary
details to orient officers.  The response was swift and overwhelming.  The
area
was almost immediately swarming with patrol cars and vans, but the
motorcycle-an
older model that  was not running, but which I'd restored over several
months
last year-was nowhere to be found.  The officers stuck with it, knowing that
the thief could not have gone far, and after conducting a careful search of
the
alleyways, they were able to apprehend the thief, red-handed, behind some
houses
at 49th and Pine trying in vain to start the motorcycle.
They immediately sent a patrol car to my house to notify me that the bike
had
been found, and officers Britton and Bagnell took turns pushing the
motorcycle
three blocks back to my house at 51st and Osage.  In the 5 years that I have
lived on 51st Street overlooking Malcolm X Park, I have not had much
occasion
to deal with officers of the 18th district, but I could not have had a
better
experience in this case.  While officers Britton and Bagnell filled out
paperwork on the recovery, they described the circumstances of the arrest
and
explained what would be expected of me as the case went forward.  They
indicated that officers O'Donnell, Lebold and Kryzwicki also participated in
the apprehension.

A stolen motorcycle, in the whole scheme of things, is not a terribly
important
crime, but it was important to me.  I know the police department gets more
bad
press than good.  It's the nature of the job, I suspect, but I wanted to
make
sure that you were aware of some of the small good things happening in the
18th.

Thanks so much for helping make Philadelphia a better city, and please
extend my
gratitude and any appropriate official commendation to officers Britton,
Bagnell, O'donnell, Lebold and Kryzwicki for their swift, professional
response.  I have sent a letter to Commissioner Ramsey requesting the same.

Sincerely,

Andrew Schwalm

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[UC] Thanks to officers of the 18th District

2008-04-03 Thread anm 

Some of you may have seen my frantic ALERT post on Phillyblog this morning
regarding a motorcycle I had stolen out of my front yard at 51st and Osage. 
The thief was apprehended quickly at 49th and Pine, thanks to the professional
work of a group of officers.  Here's what I wrote to Captain Clark (and
Commissioner Ramsey):

Captain Clark
18th Police District
5510 Pine St.
Philadelphia, PA 19143

Dear Captain Clark,

I am writing to commend a group of your officers from the 18th District.

On Thursday April 3rd, at about 9:45 am I was returning from walking my dog in
Malcolm X Park at 51st and Osage when I saw a man pushing a motorcycle around
the corner from 51st St. east onto Osage.  As I got closer to my house, I
realized it was MY motorcycle, and that the man had expended great effort to
drag it down the front steps from my yard.  I was furious and wanted to run
after him, but I put my dog inside and called 911.
The dispatcher was extremely prompt, calmed me down and got the necessary
details to orient officers.  The response was swift and overwhelming.  The area
was almost immediately swarming with patrol cars and vans, but the motorcycle—an
older model that  was not running, but which I’d restored over several months
last year—was nowhere to be found.  The officers stuck with it, knowing that
the thief could not have gone far, and after conducting a careful search of the
alleyways, they were able to apprehend the thief, red-handed, behind some houses
at 49th and Pine trying in vain to start the motorcycle.
They immediately sent a patrol car to my house to notify me that the bike had
been found, and officers Britton and Bagnell took turns pushing the motorcycle
three blocks back to my house at 51st and Osage.  In the 5 years that I have
lived on 51st Street overlooking Malcolm X Park, I have not had much occasion
to deal with officers of the 18th district, but I could not have had a better
experience in this case.  While officers Britton and Bagnell filled out
paperwork on the recovery, they described the circumstances of the arrest and
explained what would be expected of me as the case went forward.  They
indicated that officers O’Donnell, Lebold and Kryzwicki also participated in
the apprehension.

A stolen motorcycle, in the whole scheme of things, is not a terribly important
crime, but it was important to me.  I know the police department gets more bad
press than good.  It’s the nature of the job, I suspect, but I wanted to make
sure that you were aware of some of the small good things happening in the
18th.

Thanks so much for helping make Philadelphia a better city, and please extend my
gratitude and any appropriate official commendation to officers Britton,
Bagnell, O’donnell, Lebold and Kryzwicki for their swift, professional
response.  I have sent a letter to Commissioner Ramsey requesting the same.

Sincerely,

Andrew Schwalm

You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see
.