At the recent Upper Darby Council meeting Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said crime has been dropping for the year and much of the credit goes to township police officers.
Bernhardt reported major crime across the board is down.
There have been two homicides this year compared to 7 in 2023, a 71% reduction.
Attempted homicides have seen an 85% reduction, founded shootings a 21% reduction. Robberies are down by 35%, aggravated assault by 24% and sex crimes by 32%.
Bernhardt credited the men and women of the department for doing a great job during a time of changes to 21st century policing and a large number of retirements.
“I have to credit all the men and women that work here and can’t say enough how proud we are of them, as well as all our detectives,” Bernhardt said. “The reductions here are a credit to them. The men and women that are out there every day, as well as the investigators.”
He said there is an active arrest warrant for the domestic homicide on Kent Road in February and for the July homicide on the 7100 block of Penarth Avenue. Police have a search warrant in the works and he hopes both suspects will be in custody by the end of the year.
Bernhardt said the department is holding a recruitment exam in October from which there are hopes to hire five officers to bring the manpower to 138 in the township.
Angela Faraglia is sworn in as an Upper Darby police officer by Mayor Ed Brown. (COURTESY OF UPPER DARBY POLICE)
He said the newest member of the department, Angela Faraglia, was sworn in last week.
Bernhardt also announced that Sean Kenny was promoted to captain, Michael Taylor and Brian Gieder were promoted to sergeant. Several sergeants were promoted to the rank of lieutenant: Louis Garay, Laina Stevens, William Sminkey, Kristine McAleer, Daniel Oliveri and Michael Scott.
Bernhardt said six officers were recently certified to use the department’s five drones, which were instrumental in the recent carjacking investigation.
West Chester Pike in the area of carjacking in Upper Darby on Aug. 29. (PETE BANNAN – DAILY TIMES)
In other police news, Bernhardt said the newly created special operations unit, which includes highway patrol, mountain bikes and traffic complaints has made 86 arrests to date.
That unit handles traffic complaints, school dismissals and quality-of-life issues across the township.
In addition to the arrests, the unit issued 111 nontraffic citations, which include disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and small amounts of marijuana, 4,151 traffic citation and 184 parking tickets.
Total calls for that unit is 1,600 of the department’s 39,000 calls from the public this year.
Bernhardt said police are partnering with the school district with a bus patrol and about a thousand citations have been issued for vehicles that passed buses.
Police have put a new Emergency Services Unit van into the street, which is outfitted for transport and equipment purposes.
Police have ordered gunlock boxes to give to residents who legally own and register their weapons.
Licenses and inspections
New Licenses and Inspections Department Director Amrinder Singh gave a review of improvements in that department, including a formal written mission statement for his 25 employees.
He said the administration is working to move the department into a more modern and user friendly operation.
They face technology challenges, including using 1980’s-era software technology, which limits their efficiency. They are looking to update software and hope to have identified a vendor by the end of the year.
Singh said another issue is outdated forms as well as outdated ordinances, which they are working with the administration to update.
Other business
The council also passed an ordinance to pay pension obligations for municipal employees: $6.4 million will go for the police, $1.4 million for the firefighters and $1.9 million for civil service pension plans.
All pension coverage are at or near 80% covered, said Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones.
A resolution proclaiming the township’s support for immigrants passed unanimously.
ARPA Lawsuit
Solicitor Brian Killkenny said a hearing related to a lawsuit over the township’s use of American Rescue Plan Act ordinances was heard on Monday by Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Barry Dozor.
On Tuesday, the Judge said the stay prohibiting the township from reallocating ARPA money in ordinance 3141 related to Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation shall remain in place.
The judge urged further communications between the foundation and two meetings and strongly encouraged the mayor and council to be involved in the evaluation of the grant proposal which the judge will review at a Nov. 4 hearing.
The tea party
During the public comment section of the meeting, township Treasurer David Haman called Kilkenny a king who is manipulating council members and throwing out the home rule charter.
Haman said there is taxation without representation and adding a visual flair, threw tea bags in front of council members.
A number of other residents echoed his feelings.