Inexcusable inaction
Posted: Thursday, November 7, 2013 6:00 am | Updated: 7:16 am, Thu Nov 7, 2013.
Considering it was Halloween night, the gun used to rob three Morrisville trick-or-treaters of their candy, an iPod and a backpack might have been a toy. Whether it was a trick or not — and police are treating it like the real thing — it was a frightening incident and possibly a serious crime that folks in the neighborhood should have been alerted to immediately.Instead, the alleged armed robbery showed up among a list of petty crimes faxed to this newspaper five days later. The delay means that families were left unaware of the stickup and so did not take precautions they might otherwise have implemented — like keeping children in after dark.The police department’s inexcusable inaction in that regard speaks to continuing problems that have rendered that troubled force alarmingly ineffective. That’s not to say police aren’t on patrol; they are. But the communication side of the department’s responsibilities has degenerated into an apparent afterthought, leaving citizens uninformed and dangerously at risk.
It’s not the first time.
Morrisville police came under scrutiny in August and September after they failed to immediately report two attempted child abductions, waiting several days in each case to release the information. The second attempt involved an 8-year-old girl who fortunately escaped after biting the suspect’s hand and running home.
The harrowing incidents sparked an outcry among frightened residents 200 of whom then crowded a town watch meeting. In response to requests for heightened protection and improved communication, the police department added patrols and launched a Facebook page as a means of getting information to the community.
But while the department posted safety tips on the page for kids going door-to-door on Halloween, the stickup never was posted. Why?
We tried to get an answer to that question from the acting chief but didn’t hear back. Mayor Rita Ledger, who is supposed to oversee the department but has run into interference from police, said she was told that kids had candy stolen but does not recall being told that a gun was involved. The council president said she wasn’t told anything.
Failing to alert the borough’s top elected officials makes the department’s lax handling of the incident all the more serious. And it compels officials to accelerate their efforts to replace the retired police chief — a challenge made all the more difficult by the sudden departure of an interim public safety director with a stellar resume who quit after two weeks citing a lack of cooperation.
If the citizens of Morrisville are worried about their safety — they should be.
It’s not the first time.
Morrisville police came under scrutiny in August and September after they failed to immediately report two attempted child abductions, waiting several days in each case to release the information. The second attempt involved an 8-year-old girl who fortunately escaped after biting the suspect’s hand and running home.
The harrowing incidents sparked an outcry among frightened residents 200 of whom then crowded a town watch meeting. In response to requests for heightened protection and improved communication, the police department added patrols and launched a Facebook page as a means of getting information to the community.
But while the department posted safety tips on the page for kids going door-to-door on Halloween, the stickup never was posted. Why?
We tried to get an answer to that question from the acting chief but didn’t hear back. Mayor Rita Ledger, who is supposed to oversee the department but has run into interference from police, said she was told that kids had candy stolen but does not recall being told that a gun was involved. The council president said she wasn’t told anything.
Failing to alert the borough’s top elected officials makes the department’s lax handling of the incident all the more serious. And it compels officials to accelerate their efforts to replace the retired police chief — a challenge made all the more difficult by the sudden departure of an interim public safety director with a stellar resume who quit after two weeks citing a lack of cooperation.
If the citizens of Morrisville are worried about their safety — they should be.
26 comments:
The Morrisville Police Department page was created in response to a request of the Neighborhood Watch, by one officer. It is a complete volunteer effort by that officer, and the plan is to eventually have it become an administrative function within the department. Over the last few days, that Officer has received authorization to post crime logs from the Lieutenant in charge of the department. Postings are made in that officers free time, when the information is made available. the officer is not at this time authorized to make postings while on duty. The Neighborhood Watch would like to see the page fully functional and updated frequently by Police administration, and we will approach our new Police Chief regarding this matter once we have one.
I'd take a look at the council…they knew the police were failing and sat back and watched it happen. Blame this person, blame that person…go ahead.
Our elected officials have collectively failed us, again.
almost a year with out a chief…
Remember how the DeVesa report warned of an imminent catastrophe?
Any day now.....
We shouldn't have to rely on Facebook,this is ridiculous.What about those who choose not to have a page or use an incredibly invasive for-profit privacy destroying website?
It looks as though the Lt. in charge is not up to the task and should also be replaced.
there is no excuse for a Mayor to not be in contact with their council and police on a regular basis. You are elected, you need to be accessible and communicate. Rita was able to make it to a political debate but could not get information out to the council. Thats bull crap and she knows it. Im ashamed that she was our mayor
Thanks for posting, Jen. Things didn't get this way overnight, and they won't be corrected overnight, but if enough smart, capable citizens get involved and stay involved, I believe we'll see positive changes.
This coming from a mostly glass is 1/2 empty kind of guy. Though the engineer in me thinks of the t-shirt that says "technically, the glass is always full (1/2 water, 1/2 air)".
There's vice presidents and lieutenant governors. Who is in charge when the mayor is away or unavailable?
The citizens of Morrisville SHOULD NOT have to depend of Facebook to provide this type of information!
The Boro Council needs to act IMMEDIATELY to install someone to oversee the police dept who is more responsive than the individual currently in that position. We should not have to wait for the administration for this to occur.
I'm pretty sure the police chief process is not at the borough council level until the end. Having a police chief would not have prevented the Halloween incident from happening.
It is so easy to toss blame around and it's getting very old.
I've heard so much crap lately, and frankly those spewing it should be ashamed of themselves. It's childish. It's counterproductive for Morrisville and kind of makes our community sound like we're bickering at a hick family reunion. Get over yourselves and move on. If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem. Why not consider where we go from here, today.
If you really want Morrisville to prosper, support your elected officials. If that isn't what your goal is, continue to spew and criticize. Give help, not condemnation.
Morrisville is hickville so you can get over yourself.
I agree that Morrisville should not have to rely on Facebook, but Facebook can be a great tool for disseminating information quickly. The Neighborhood Watch is researching other avenues such as phone blasts, email alerts and others. We hope to be able to be a part of bringing a useful system of alerts to the Borough.
"If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem"
Really think about that for a second-it's one of those pithy sayings that SOUNDS good but has no real truth.
If you see a problem but don't know how to fix it, you're suddenly part of it?
If you see a crime or an accident and you have nothing to offer because you're just an ordinary citizen..you're now lumped in with the cause?
I'm tired of hearing this. Stop being such a blind cheerleader and blithely dismissing others' concerns.
I did not write the post above that used the saying, but I actually thought it was a good post.
If you see a problem but don't know how to fix it, give support, not condemnation. You would be helping instead of whining, or doing nothing at all.
If you see a crime or an accident and you have nothing to offer you always have something to offer such as prayer.
I do believe Morrisville needs cheerleaders, and lots of them. Everyone has the ability to move forward and give positive input or to ridicule.
blind cheerleader and blithely dismissing others' concerns.
It is unfortunate the there are those who will be unwilling to move forward.
There will always be some bitter-enders in society. It may not be pretty, but the rest will move forward without them.
Trying to move forward with the same people in office that created these problems and expecting a different result is a definition of insanity! Really, you think that if we blindly support this government things would change? Honestly, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM. You can't possibly believe these people are going to change anything! What we need to do is attend every council meeting and hold all of them accountable for this mess. No excuses, action. We have to take our town back. This is embarrassing. I checked in on the town watch site and read the attacks on people who are only trying to improve our town! Stop being afraid of the current administration and hold them accountable. There is no excuse for the condition of our police department! It got this way from decades of neglect and political interference. Those that have been in office for more than one term are personally responsible for this mess. Shame on all over you. You chose to run and stay in office. This is your fault. Come up with answers or do the honorable thing and resign from office. Stop bashing those who are trying to get involved in projects to improve our town. We the people are in charge and our elected officials and their hired consultant work for us.
In casting your blamenet, you mustn't leave out Jane Burger and her merry minions like Jack Buckman and Stephen Worob.
Jane's lawsuit co sponsored by the dynamic duo Hellman father and son team and reliable lackey Bill Farrell just proved the rumor that Jane was behind all this. She gave Rita the 4 hour veto message and is determined to keep Morrisville down.
If you are blaming people. Why not blame Mr. Bates and the Council for the DCED grant fiasco? They filed what could be termed at best inaccurate data with the grant application. At worse, it was false. Oops, guess no one is bothering to speak about that. It is sad to say at this point, but to ensure our safety, the townwatch group is our last best hope! Our elected officials have proven that they can't get anything done!
The "blame" is on all of us voters. We elected children to play at being the adults in charge. Get rid of them all and start again.
I'm not sure townwatch is our last best hope, Obi Wan. Let's give it a year and see where things are. I know the council will still exist in 2015. Will townwatch?
So, in one breath you say it is the current council's fault and in the next it took decades to get this way - which one is it?
The current council is fixing the mess left by Jane Burger and co. Vic is part if that - he is behind the scenes of a lot of what is going on, including this mess with Pepitone.
In a way, I have to feel sorry for Peps... He has no idea who he's jumped in bed with.
To poster above:
How long has sacred cow Dave Rivella been a member of council?
Actually getting rid of one obstructionist changes the total dynamic on council.
Since we are talking about definitions and blaming people, what do you call it when you haven't paid any attention to what has been going on, to who has or has not done anything and to why we are where we are only to come in and think you know what you're talking about?
The town watch fb page has already proven to be political. I had to stop reading it as often as I had been.
Everything Mr. Bates and council for that matter does has been okayed by the borough solicitor, Mr. Downey. He is the community's legal representative in all matters excluding when a special solicitor is used. (ex: the attorney for Rita's case was provided by the insurance co). If someone feels as though Mr. Bates or council was given misdirection by the borough solicitor then put the blame where it belongs instead of pretending you know what's going on. Don't like the firm that is representing the borough? Blame the cronies. He was hired by Vic, Debbie, Todd, Eileen and Rita at a higher rate than the previous firm. Blame them as well.
If you think our elected officials haven't gotten anything done, you truly are showing how much you haven't been paying attention.
If you aren't part of the solution....you are the precipitate.
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