Dereliction of duty
Posted: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 12:30 pm | Updated: 12:44 pm, Wed Sep 18, 2013.
A police department’s responsibility to its community doesn’t start with putting cops on the streets or responding to calls quickly. It begins with preventive measures. This includes keeping citizens informed.The Morrisville Police Department failed in this basic duty when it didn’t report and then refused to confirm — when questioned — that a second child abduction attempt had occurred in the borough in recent weeks.Borough Mayor Rita Ledger, who oversees the police department, confirmed Monday that an attempted abduction took place Friday. The temporary head of the chiefless department refused to talk to the newspaper when a reporter called with questions about the incident earlier that day. The reporter then contacted Mayor Ledger.
According to a witness, a boy was approached by two men in a white work van; he ran away. The failed abduction follows a similar incident last month when an 8-year-old girl escaped a kidnap attempt in her own back yard. The would-be abductor had covered the girl’s mouth and was dragging her toward his car when the girl bit his hand, wrangled free and ran off.
Information about that frightening incident was not released by police until five days later. Finally made aware of both near-abductions, citizens attending this week’s borough council meeting clamored for more police on the streets.
That’s not a bad idea. Problem is, police ranks have been thinned by retirements and resignations, so beefing up street presence isn’t a simple matter in the short term until replacements are hired. What’s simple — and effective — is keeping the public informed. Citizens can be the eyes and ears of police — if they’ve been alerted to danger.
It’s unconscionable that borough residents went about their business completely unaware of an attempted child abduction for five days in the case of last month’s incident and for three days in the case of last week’s. Such an incredible lack of judgment — a dereliction of duty in our view — speaks to the chaotic state of the borough police department. The place is a zoo.
Cops are fighting amongst themselves leading to lawsuits and a request from the borough’s insurance company for an investigation. An interim chief with a background as a judge and prosecutor quit after two weeks on the job, citing a lack of cooperation from police personnel. He filed a report with borough officials before departing. Following the lead of their secretive police department, officials did not volunteer the document. The newspaper has filed a Freedom of Information request to obtain it.
It shouldn’t have to come to that. Citizens have a right to know what’s going on with the police department they pay to protect them. Reportedly, the departing chief in his report said Morrisville’s mess of a police department is a “tragedy or catastrophe” waiting to happen.
There now have been two near-misses. We fear — and so should bumbling borough officials — that it’s just a matter of time before tragedy indeed strikes.
According to a witness, a boy was approached by two men in a white work van; he ran away. The failed abduction follows a similar incident last month when an 8-year-old girl escaped a kidnap attempt in her own back yard. The would-be abductor had covered the girl’s mouth and was dragging her toward his car when the girl bit his hand, wrangled free and ran off.
Information about that frightening incident was not released by police until five days later. Finally made aware of both near-abductions, citizens attending this week’s borough council meeting clamored for more police on the streets.
That’s not a bad idea. Problem is, police ranks have been thinned by retirements and resignations, so beefing up street presence isn’t a simple matter in the short term until replacements are hired. What’s simple — and effective — is keeping the public informed. Citizens can be the eyes and ears of police — if they’ve been alerted to danger.
It’s unconscionable that borough residents went about their business completely unaware of an attempted child abduction for five days in the case of last month’s incident and for three days in the case of last week’s. Such an incredible lack of judgment — a dereliction of duty in our view — speaks to the chaotic state of the borough police department. The place is a zoo.
Cops are fighting amongst themselves leading to lawsuits and a request from the borough’s insurance company for an investigation. An interim chief with a background as a judge and prosecutor quit after two weeks on the job, citing a lack of cooperation from police personnel. He filed a report with borough officials before departing. Following the lead of their secretive police department, officials did not volunteer the document. The newspaper has filed a Freedom of Information request to obtain it.
It shouldn’t have to come to that. Citizens have a right to know what’s going on with the police department they pay to protect them. Reportedly, the departing chief in his report said Morrisville’s mess of a police department is a “tragedy or catastrophe” waiting to happen.
There now have been two near-misses. We fear — and so should bumbling borough officials — that it’s just a matter of time before tragedy indeed strikes.
42 comments:
Feeling gut churning anger, shame, and embarrassment in addition to unsafe. Way to go, town anti-leaders and "police" department.
Derelicts and duty. That more of less describes the situation.
Today at little bulldog practice someone from the police department spoke to the kids about being careful.
A parent of a child at Holy Trinity School posted today that a flyer in went home in the Wed folders. It stated that the "student body has been reminded of normal precautions to take when confronted by a stranger"
And included two pages on Stranger Danger "By Morrisville Police Department".
I understand that the police dept cannot discuss ongoing investigations. It is unfortunate that they didn't send out warnings in a timely manner. These are two steps in the right direction. They seem to be finally taking the steps that should have been taken before now. I hope they continue to inform the community from this point on.
To date, borough council has not been informed of any of the attempted child abduction information. Mayor Ledger said that she received information on Friday, yet council had to learn what they know of these situations from the media, not from the borough office, the mayor or the police department. Everyone should be on the same page with this. Everyone should be informed, not left in the dark.
What's her excuse, Ledger lovers?
Any comments from the mayoral hopefuls?
We know you read this blog.
May I suggest:
...how dare you?
...the police's fault?
...the lawyer's fault?
...the van's fault?
...a bible verse?
...silent acknowledgement that you aren't and never were fit for the job?
The public can be given suspect and suspect vehicle descriptions without compromising the investigation.
As important as it is to apprehend the suspect(s) it is even more important to protect the public from further danger. Knowledge of the incident and suspect information released to the public does that. It also aids in apprehension with more eyes out there looking for the suspect.
The more I learn about the condition of the police department, the more concerned I become.
I learned that there is missing evidence from the evidence locker and nothing was done about it until one of the officers involved reported it to the Mayor AFTER the officer reported it to the officer in charge! Months after it was reported to the officer in charge. Still waiting to see if something is done. Now, the council hires a consultant to help with the hiring of a new police chief. This is the same person one of the councilman tried to hire as the chief! He was going to be chief of two municipal police departments at the same time. His municipality shot the idea down. It appears that NONE of our elected officials has a clue what to do. One of them was quoted as saying the recent interim public safety director hit the nail on the head with his report. This same report said the chaos has been going on for decades. Including the time that this councilman was the Chief! Really, we expect these people to do the right thing?
This is why I can't vote for Pepitone. He's more of the same old Morrisville allege until something sticks crew. You had a chance with me. Now it's gone.
Crime is on the rise, and our 'leaders' have no answers.
Why?
A young girl is almost abducted from her backyard, and the Borough does not notify its citizens for 5 days.
Why?
Another attempted abduction, and no added police presence near our schools.
Why?
A police department allowed to deteriorate due to gross mismanagement and unproductive litigation.
Why?
Our police officers left short-staffed and abandoned by our 'leaders', their own personal safety jeopardized as well as ours.
Why?
No police chief for NINE months and counting.
Why?
The answers may be in the Borough Council meeting minutes, BUT THEY WON'T LET YOU SEE THEM.
Keep asking why, Morrisville.
Roger two niner. Tin foil conspiracy hat squad on alert.
From the other thread, but relevant in any case, this message is for all of you looking to get elected.
Anonymous said...
At this point I'll vote for whoever knocks on my door and asks for my vote.
That will tell me who's serious and who's not.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Your name and address might be helpful in that case.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Anonymous Anonymous said...
That's up to the candidates to ensure that they get in front of their intended supporters. If any of them are not willing to get out and meet the people on the people's terms, they don't deserve to represent them, and they will likely make lousy public servants. This goes for the SB, Council and mayor. I will no longer vote for someone in a local election I've not met, and the onus is on the candidates to ensure that happens. I expect most of them read this blog from time to time, and I also expect there are others who feel the same way. You want my vote, you need to earn it.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
The department is a wreck. Thus an investigation that was so much bad stuff in it that parts of it couldn't even be blacked out so council could see it. There was just too much. And now it's in the hands of several entities higher than Morrisville. In thinking about the state of our police dept and the investigation, I remember that council received much criticism for investigating the police dept. I was one of the people questioning why this step was being taken. Now I understand why. I do wish it could move forward more quickly but I understand that it is not in Morrisville's hands.
About the attempted abductions...the police handled this badly, very badly.
Nobody was informed of anything, not the public, not council, not the schools, etc. Everyone should have been notified of whatever information they were able to give out. Council found out about these incidents from the media. This is not acceptable.
I am thankful that the police dept is at least now trying to get information out to the children.
The officer in charge and the mayor should have engaged the reporters, should have asked them for interviews, not turn their backed on the media. It's my understanding that neither the borough manager or anyone from council has any day to day authority over the police dept. If I understand it correctly, there is a chain of command in all situations that has to be followed. I don't know if I'm remembering this correctly. I think one of the things listed in Ledger's lawsuit is that the borough manager tried to communicate with the police dept without going through her.
I'll buy some of what I'm reading but I'm not ready to point my finger at everyone who walks into borough hall. Fred Kerner is a pretty intelligent guy. I'm finding it hard to believe that Fred is up to some grand conspiracy to take down the borough or that he is inept or that he would knowingly support anyone who is.
To me this just proves Pepitone takes his cue directly from the usual Morrisville don't change anythingers. That looks like one of the stop the school flyer writers took a stab at it.
"Now, the council hires a consultant to help with the hiring of a new police chief. This is the same person one of the councilman tried to hire as the chief! He was going to be chief of two municipal police departments at the same time."
Three people were picked for this committee. I know that Rivella initially signed up but almost immediately stepped down from the search committee. At the time I figured former chief, Councilman Cicero who was also on the committee was up to something and Rivella wanted no part in it. I kind of thought Cicero was maybe trying to get one of his buddies the job.
I do remember that before the primary election Rivella tried to tell people that Cicero was up to things that had nothing to do with working for the town.
I wonder who posted the info above?
Why wouldn't Mr Rivella want to be involved in the selection of someone he would potentially be working with as mayor?
why is anyone having a problem with a guy putting info out there for the elecion to get your attention? I think its crazy for everyone to beating down a guy who is just trying to do something right and become a part of the solution rather than a freaking complainer, whiner, armchair quaterback who always have the answer behind their Anonymous posts. Its very obvioius that many of these negative posts are coming from the other candidates to try to get your attention off someone who is making some moves on their precious ground that is corrupt in their own right. come on people of morrisville wake up and smell the coffee and take a look at someone new rather than the old regime who cannot get past political BS and move forward. nobody will have all the answers or make all make all happy but look at the last board election peple had their doubts on who were these new people calling themselves just parents who want to do something rather than be on the sidelines and now look they are doing what they can and the best they can and they will have my vote this year and the next election because the potential alternative is sickening. anyone who puts their neck on the line deserves respect for just that move and unlses you have put yourself in that position get off your high horses and stop bashing someone you dont event know just for doing what you had hoped and wished you had the balls to do. i dont care if you vote for him or not but stop bashing and look around you at the alternatives old politics and keep things as they are or try a new hand and you just might see someone work for you
Off the top of my head, I can think of two reasons why Rivella would step down from the committee.
One being that no doubt it would be said that he was handpicking his chief as a potential mayor.
The other being that he could have thought the process seemed less than genuine, jaded by the former chief's involvement.
I know the former chief would be able to give insight, but that could be done without being on the search committee. It does seem improper to have the former chief on the committee.
" anyone who puts their neck on the line deserves respect for just that move and unlses you have put yourself in that position get off your high horses and stop bashing someone you dont event know just for doing what you had hoped and wished you had the balls to do."
I mean no disrespect, but you kind of lost me. This could be said about all candidates.
Hey Third warder, your ranting isn't helping. Try to take breath between thinking and writing. A little punctuation might help too.
jane didnt tell me to use punctuatioin just to get the message out split the ticket and get kitty and justin in im tired of all the old people in there its time for new people like bill who have no connection did i say it right this time jane
WTF? Your getting worse. I understand your words, but not put together like that.
Morrisville mayor, police to discuss faster crime alerts
By Jo Ciavaglia and Gema Marie Duarte Staff writer
Morrisville’s mayor plans to meet with police to work out a strategy for publicizing future public safety incidents following criticism this week over the handling of a second alleged child abduction attempt last Friday.
Mayor Rita Ledger, who oversees the borough’s police department, was told on Friday about the alleged child luring incident, but she did not share the information until Monday, when she confirmed the incident for the Bucks County Courier Times.
Police Lt. Tom Herron, whom Ledger says she’ll meet with on Friday, has not released any information about the incident, and has declined comment on it.
On Wednesday, Ledger acknowledged she could have notified other council members, but she didn’t because she didn’t have much information as the incident remains under investigation. Police have told Ledger they won’t release more information until the investigation is complete.
Ledger also says that she will meet with council President Nancy Sherlock to put a plan in place for notifying council about relevant police matters in a timely fashion.
In a statement released Wednesday, councilwoman Sherlock said the lack of information about the two alleged abduction attempts have left the community to speculate. She confirmed that council has not received any information about the recent possible abduction reports.
“Council members are very concerned about the welfare of our most vulnerable residents, the children. At this time, we would ask all parents to be particularly vigilant about watching their children,” she said in the statement.
Sherlock also encouraged community members to contact local government officials and police for updates.
“I don’t like the idea they’re closed-mouthed,” she added. “Silence always makes people think things.”
Friday’s alleged abduction attempt reportedly involved two men in a white work van who approached a boy around 6 p.m. in the 300 block of North Melvin Avenue. The boy ran away and no other details have been officially released.
Morrisville police experienced backlash last month after police waited five days before reporting an alleged child abduction attempt.
In the Aug. 19 incident, an 8-year-old girl escaped a kidnapping attempt in her West Bridge Street backyard. The girl and her brother told police the alleged abductor approached the yard in a newer model light-colored sedan.
The man got out of the car, walked over to the girl and grabbed her, covering her mouth with his hand and started dragging her to his car. The girl bit the man on the hand, broke free and ran home with her brother.
Police said that nearby surveillance cameras showed the car was apparently casing the area before the kidnapping attempt.
Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia; To subscribe, go to phillyburbs.com/orderBCCT
The 2nd post above under 3rd warder is fake that is not my post. Nice try bud to throw people off. I am not with whomever Jane is, im not with anyone, im a neighbor who would like bashing to stop againt this man who decided to run for mayor without anyone knowing him or his family. Grow up and join the face of change instead if the old guard that got us no where
I will vote for him as I want change. Don't turn out to be a Burgerbot. People , including me, will feel betrayed and will be PISSED.
That would be Pepto-Dismal.
It sounds way too easy to sit back and do nothing, then complain that council has gotten us nowhere. I have helped here and there, have been on committees and worked with orgs. Have helped during some stuff the borough has done. Council is made up of individuals. I can't lop them all into a problem and call them "council" because not everyone is causing problems. It is said that council does nothing. To those people I say where were you to champion the borough wide green project? It met with resistance from the three obstructionists on council and a veto by the mayor because that's what she does best. (as long as someone else writes it for her) Think council doesn't do anything? Blame yourself because you weren't there to support good projects that get stopped from moving this town forward by obstructionism. If you think council is do nothing, you are part of the problem because you don't pay attention, then point your finger at all of council instead of where it is deserved.
jane told me to tell you all that i think the guy above me posting as the real 3rd warder is fake i want the do nothings to get in office and keep morrisville morrisville i mean i want the do notjings out of office i mean i wish jane would just make her own postings
This is getting creepy and more than a little cray cray.
The same people who caused this mess are now in charge of finding us a new police chief...what could possibly be wrong with that.
How can our borough sign a contract to award community improvements THAN vote to approve it...when asked to speak on the subject the Borough Consultant Tom Bates says its already a done deal.
Then why are they voting on it if it is a done deal?
None of this makes sense.
Not to mention Mr. Cicero tried to hire the Chief of Lower Makefield to run our police department too. When that failed, he hired his buddy to conduct the search for our new chief and awarded him an additional contract to consult with the new chief for six months.
Gee...if he can't give our money to one of his buddies one way, he finds another way to give it to him.
I have never heard of a police chief needing six months of guidance from an outside source to function in his/her new position.
Right back to the beginning
Now I hear he is trying to get one of his buddies hired as a part time police officer. This buddy has been fired several times from previous positions and we need to hire him?!
Right back to the beginning again...
To the poster above. I kind of sounds like you don't know what you're talking about on either subject. That or you are seeming so on purpose. Spreading misinformation only serves to make Morrisville look small. May I suggest educating yourself on the subjects you have chosen to speak about. If you actually do know the correct information please discontinue spreading that which you know is not true. As a community I would love to get past this type of negativity just for the sake of being negative.
Just about the only thing I can agree with in the rambling two above is that Mr. Cicero should not have been chosen as a person on the search committee.
Mostly I agree with the "None of this makes sense." part.
What doesn't make sense to me is how the improvement project no voters could go a year and 1/2 without seeing the contract unless they willfully avoided seeing it. Can someone explain that?
Why do SOC pearls of wisdom always sound like rambling delusions sprinkled with mental illness?
All of council received the contract. My guess is that a couple of them didn't understand what they were reading. Or that it was too long so they didn't read it at all. It's not like they were going to vote for it anyway.
I know the feeling. The Head Start Manor Park lease is only 17 pages long, and I don't get the sense any of the 6 who voted to terminate it read it. Or if they did read it, they didn't understand it to see what the consequences were. Or if they did understand the consequences, they didn't care.
but, reading is hard. Can't we just vote from our hearts?
Stupid Flanders!!
It sounds like we should have 2 or 3 citizens on the chief search committee to keep the politicians on task.
Marlys Myhock for search committee President!
Make her chief!
Dick Cheney was picked by GW Bush to head his VP search, and Cheney ended up picking himself. Just sayin'.
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