Lawncrest gets new crime update

Mark Mroz, public information officer for the 2nd Police District, gave a crime update at the Lawncrest Community Association meeting.

Mroz spoke of a shooting in the 200 block of Comly St., an armed robbery in the 4200 block of Roosevelt Blvd., stolen car keys in the 6300 block of Oxford Ave., stolen keys and a cell phone in the 500 block of Knorr St. and stolen keys and a wallet in the Hill Creek housing project.

Mroz mentioned that a resident in the 600 block of Benner St. shot a dog that survived.

The official reported that 19 bicycles were raffled off during the recent National Night Out celebration at Fox Chase Elementary School.

Mroz encouraged people to enroll in the Civilian Police Academy, which runs for nine weeks on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the police academy, 2838 Woodhaven Road. Contact Cpl. Megan Fabrizio at 215-934-4147 or [email protected].

More news from the August 15 meeting:

• State Rep. Anthony Bellmon spoke about the response to the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in July in the 1200 block of Van Kirk St. Bellmon responded to the block along with City Councilman Anthony Phillips, the 2nd Police District and city officials.

Bellmon also visited the World War I memorial that had been spray-painted with a pro-Hamas message after receiving a text message about the incident from local resident Heather Miller. Bellmon said he was glad the city immediately cleaned up the vandalism, which occurred on a Saturday morning, rather than waiting until Monday.

Bellmon is pleased that the state passed a budget that includes a $1.1 billion increase in funding for public education.

The congressman is not happy, however, that his bill to electronically record gun sales failed to pass. He blamed Republicans for the failure, but it was Democratic Congressman Frank Burns who cast the deciding vote when the bill failed by a vote of 101 to 100.

Nevertheless, Bellmon is pleased that the budget provides more funding for gun violence intervention and prevention programs.

• The LCA unanimously approved legalizing an office use on the second floor of a building at 6800 Martins Mill Road. The site is home to Behavioral Health Solutions, which is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Emanuel Wilkerson, chief of staff to Councilman Anthony Phillips, spoke about a new law that allows the city to remove or trim a tree that is threatening to fall on a home. Recently, the city removed an oak tree in the 900 block of Marcella St. in Summerdale at the request of Phyllis Swing, a resident of the block. The house where the tree stood had been vacant for 15 years.

• The Lawncrest Recreation Center pool will be closed on August 19. The Max Myers Recreation Center pool will be open through Labor Day (Monday, September 2).

• The next two meetings of the Lawncrest Community Association will be held on the third Wednesday of the month, September 18 and October 16, at 6:30 p.m. at St. William's Monsignor James E. Mortimer Memorial Hall, Argyle and Robbins Streets. ••