APA Contributes $120,000 for Police Patrols
Last updated: 04/15/2011 10:12
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski today accepted a $120,000 contribution from the Allentown Parking Authority to be used for extra job police officers in the Central Business District. The presentation was made at an afternoon news conference in city hall by Allentown Parking Authority Executive Director Tamara Weller, Allentown Parking Authority Board Chairwoman Linda Rosenfeld, Allentown City Councilman and authority board member Michael Donovan and authority board member Larry Hilliard.
“I am extremely gratified that the authority board made the decision to contribute to extra foot or bicycle patrols,” said Pawlowski. “This will make a tremendous positive impact on our police presence in this critical neighborhood.”
The one-time parking authority contribution comes from a recent state reimbursement for funds it expended to develop the Allentown Arts Walk. “The board felt strongly that it was appropriate to reinvest the majority of this reimbursement back into the community,” said Weller. “The authority recognizes the importance of more visible police patrols, particularly within the Central Business District.”
According to the agreement between the city and the authority, two “extra job” officers will be utilized Monday through Friday from 7am-10am and from 3pm-6pm. They will be on either foot or bicycle patrols in the area of 5th to 13th streets and Walnut to Linden streets. Their duties will include checking businesses and patrolling Allentown Parking Authority properties. These same officers are not expected to respond to calls for service generated by the Allentown Communications Center, but they may choose to do so.
“We have been looking at ways to increase police presence in this area,” said Allentown Police Chief Roger MacLean. “This contribution allows us to use extra job officers without draining the department’s budget.”
The parking authority contribution will pay for 2,880 hours of foot and bicycle patrols plus an additional 660 discretionary officer hours to be allocated toward coverage at special events within the Central Business District for a total of 3,540 patrol hours.
“We have been exploring every opportunity to enhance public safety in the city,” said the mayor. “We are increasing the size of the police force to 209 officers this year; we are adding more cameras to key intersections and now thanks to our partners at the Allentown Parking Authority we are increasing our police presence at critical commuter times in critical areas.”
“The authority is happy to be able to meet this need,” said Weller. “We look forward to participating with the city in other mutually beneficial projects.”
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