Phila. police to hold community meetings this summer

The Philadelphia Police Department today announced a series of community meetings in June with divisional commanders and said that Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey would hold an additional round of town-hall meetings in July.

The public meetings, similar to the sessions the commissioner conducted in January after taking command of the department, are designed to allow the public to communicate "problems, concerns, and advice to help the police department make their neighborhoods safer," said Lt. Frank Vanore, police spokesman.

The schedule:

South Division: 6 p.m., Thursday, June 19, at Vare Recreation Center 2600 Morris Street. This meeting should be attended by residents of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 17th Districts.

Southwest Division: 6 p.m.m, Thursday, June 19, Southwest Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1200 S. 58th Street. This meeting should be attended by residents of the 12th, 16th, 18th, 19th Districts.

Northwest Division: 7 p.m., Thursday, June 26, Arthur Ashe Tennis Center, 4842 Ridge Ave. This meeting should be attended by residents of the 5th, 14th, 35th, 39th Districts.

Northeast Division: 6 p.m., Thursday, June 26, Fitzpatrick School, Knights & Chalfont Drive. This meeting should be attended by residents of the 2nd, 7th, 8th, 15th Districts.

Central Division: 6 p.m., Thursday, June 26, The Philadelphian, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. This meeting should be attended by residents of the 6th, 9th, 22nd, 23rd, Districts

Vanore said the East Division meeting was held last week, but he said that Ramsey personally would hold town-hall meetings from July 8 and 24 at locations and times to be announced.