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Billtown Cops Walking the Beat

Billtown Cops Walking the Beat - Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 5:38PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 @ 05:38pm EST
Williamsport, Lycoming County-

The recent emphasis on community policing in Williamsport is being taken to another level.

The sight of patrol officers pounding the pavement in neighborhoods all around the city is becoming much more common. So far, the idea has been well received.

Raymond DeVaughn, of Williamsport, said, "Just the presence of the police walking through the neighborhood, I believe, is a deterrent for any malicious or mischievous activities that can happen."

Officers are also being encouraged to stop and talk with the people who live in each neighborhood while walking the beat.

Chief Greg Foresman noted, "It gets the officers out. It gets them to intermingle with the public a little bit more. It gets the public to see the officer actually face to face, rather than seeing a police car driving by."

According to the police chief, all officers will be required to spend at least a half hour each day patrolling on foot in a specific neighborhood. And the officers here hope being more visible will benefit them as well.

Patrolman Tom Bortz explained, "If I'm out walking, it gives me the opportunity to talk to people, for them to share some of the problems they see, or maybe even some information we could use down the road."

The idea for the walk and talk program was modeled after a similar successful program in York, Pennsylvania.

DeVaughn added, "I just think that we need to unite and come together and be more supportive of our police, because they're just here to protect and serve."

A regional mutual aid proposal is also in the works that would benefit all police departments in Lycoming County.
 


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