COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - - - Room 401, City Hal Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, June 16, 1998 1:10 p.m. - - - RESOLUTION 980215 - Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to investigate and conduct hearings examining recent security breaches within the Philadelphia Prison System, (PPS) and further calling on the Committee to issue recommendations as to how the Prison's Security System can be improved to ensure the safety of Philadelphia's citizens. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN ANGEL ORTIZ, Chairman COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI, Vice Chair COUNCILMAN FRANK DI CICCO COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 I N D E X RESOLUTION 980215 THOMAS J. COSTELLO, Commissioner of Prisons -3,16 PRESS GROOMS, Deputy Comm. of Operations ---- 14 JOE MARTZ, Deputy Manager Director ---------- 30 JEANETTE MALISZEWSKI, Holmesburg Civic Assoc. -40 MARYELLEN AUMAN, Infield Civic Assoc. -------- 46 PATRICIA SHEASLEY ---------------------------- 56 RICHARD BOETTINGER --------------------------- 59 MARYBETH MARZULLI ---------------------------- 61 FRED MOORE ----------------------------------- 65 PEG BISIRRI ---------------------------------- 66 MARGARET KETT -------------------------------- 67 ED JACKSON ----------------------------------- 67 RUBY ADAMS ----------------------------------- 69 ROBERT SMITH ----------------------------- 70, 71 MARISSA SMITH -------------------------------- 71 3 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
Good afternoon. This is a hearing of the City Council Committee on Public Safety, Michael Nutter being present, Frank DiCicco being present, and Councilwoman Joan Krajewski on my left being present, we have a quorum of the Committee and we will have a hearing on resolution 8 980215, the resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to investigation and conduct hearings examining recent security breaches within the Philadelphia Prison System and further calling on the Committee to issue recommendations as to how the Prison's Security System can be improved to ensure the safety of Philadelphia's citizens. We have a group of citizens plus the current commissioner of prison Mr. Thomas J. Costello. Is he here? Mr. Costello, will you please come please? Mr. Costello, will you identify yourself for the record and the individuals that are at the table with you?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My my name is Thomas J. Costello, the Commissioner of Prisons in Philadelphia. To my left, your right, is Deputy Commissioner John Dawn, 4 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Deputy Commissioner for Administration. To my right, your left, is Deputy Commissioner Press Grooms, Deputy Commissioner for Operations. And John Este ch, Deputy Chief of Staff.
Commissioner, you're going to read this, or you're going to give us a summary and your testimony will be put into the record?
Mr. Chairman, I would like to read excerpts from the testimony I think for the record, and then you can stop me if there's any -- at any time to summarize the area that I'm trying to concentrate on.
Like I said, it's quite extensive, but if you summarize and put forward the salient points that you want to make and then we will include the complete testimony for the record.
All right, Mr. Chairman, thank you. The Philadelphia Prison System is a county correctional program. We hold inmates for trial, particularly those who cannot make bail.
By the way, President Street is not the Chairman of the Committee. 5 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
Yes, sir, I understand that. We hold inmates for trial, particularly those who cannot make bail. And we hold inmates for trial particularly -- and we hold inmates who are serving a county sentence which is a sentence of less than two years. During calendar year 1997, the Philadelphia Prison System received over 25,000 new inmates and maintained an average population of about 5700 on a daily basis. Approximately 4,000 of those 5700 inmates are being held in a pretrial status. Those pretrial inmates are with us for an average of 57 days. Sentenced inmates are held for an average of 215 days. The Philadelphia Prison System is larger than prison systems in 17 states and offer services and programs comparable to many state systems. There is a continual influx of new inmates, and on a daily basis an average of almost 70 new admissions and discharges. In addition, the prison system transport approximately 275 inmates to and from various facilities. Most of these inmates will return to our 6 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 communities while they're in our custody. Part of our mission is to give them appropriate opportunity to change. We do this by providing or facilitating educational programs, drug treatment programs, religious programs, vocational programs, work opportunities --
Commissioner, if I may. The hearing is about the security breaches. We understand about the population and what you have. What we would like you, and I know the community residents who are here is that they're concern about the recent security breaches that have happened in the prison. And what I would like you to address yourselves to is, one, why did they occur, how many have occurred in the last year or two years, and if they were because of personnel, lack of personnel, lack of whatever it is that you have been able to ascertain as to the reasons, what have you done in order to begin securing and making sure that those things don't happen again?
All right, Mr. Chairman. I would like to skip then to the escapes portion of the testimony which goes into detail. Although, I think it's very important to City Council and 7 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Members of this Committee and for the community to understand our program as described in the first several pages.
I do believe that they understand what the program is, Commissioner. As you are well aware that we have met with Infield Holmesburg several times. As the Councilman stated, we're more concerned about the security of Holmesburg -- Curran Fromhold and what has transpired since the last time that we had met at the meeting with Infield Holmesburg's meeting. Have you been in communication with the civic associations?
I'd like to actually read from the last two pages which summarizes, not only the events that occurred, but also what we've done to address them.
Under escapes, I believe our staff does an excellent job both in keeping inmates locked in and helping people to achieve some 8 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 measure of personal change and growth. When an inmate escapes, whether or not he is a close custody inmate or a trustee walking off prison grounds, we will almost always point to staff negligence or dereliction as a contributing factor. Make no 7 mistake about it, inmates will take advantage of staff negligence or a lapse in carrying out proper procedures, but escapes are always actions initiated by inmates, carried out by inmates sometimes with great planning. Over the past months from December 13 1st, 1996 through May 29, 1998, 12 inmates escaped 14 or walked away from facilities located in the 15 Philadelphia Prison System campus. Nine of the 16 twelve inmates were classified as low minimum -- 17
Could you explain that phrase to me, walked away? How can a prisoner walk away from a prison?
He just walks out the front door, goes to the bus stop and takes a bus? 9 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
Some inmates are classified as community or low minimum custody. They are under supervision, but they are not in the secure environment, either at a work or vocational or educational program. They do not have the barriers that, say, maximum, close, medium or even a high minimum custody inmate would have as described in the first several pages of my testimony. So there is a difference between someone walking away and someone escaping and breaching a perimeter. That's basically the rule of thumb.
That's correct. They are outside of the secure perimeter and they are under supervision. Probably if someone's outside cutting the grass, if there's a crew of 12 inmates who are classified either as community or low minimum custody and they're outside doing chores, the correctional officer can't keep someone from escaping and supervising this particular group.
When you say they are outside in a secured perimeter, how do you define that aspect? What is a secure perimeter? 10 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
Secure perimeter is a fence or a wall which -- or the perimeter is normally boundried by a fence or a wall which allows entering and exiting with the supervision of a correctional officer or surveillance equipment. In the case of trustees, we call these individuals trustees because they have a trustee-type position. They are already on the outside of the perimeter. So there's nothing keeping them from running away. We use the term, quote unquote, walk away. But in fact, when someone wants to escape and they're a trustee, they technically run away.
There was a total of nine that were -- nine of the twelve were classified as low minimum or community custody.
Then we have to get a definition of the word. I don't think they're very trustworthy. If nine of twelve trustees escape, I don't think -- 11 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
I know it's a prison term. I'm just trying to clarify the record so we can have a distinction between walk away and escape and people understand the different phrases.
That's why I wanted to read the first several pages which describe exactly what criteria is used in classifying an inmate to that particular status within the system. But the facts are that nine of these were trustees. Two inmates escaped from a prison bus were close custody, and an inmate who escaped from the House of Correction gym was classified as a medium custody inmate. The medium custody inmate was Thomas McGee, a medium custody inmate. John Seltzer and Armondo Lopez, both minimum custody inmates have not been apprehended. In other words, there are still three that are still open absconders, they have not been apprehend had yet. To give you an idea of the number of trustees that we have working outside on the grounds and attending various programs, there are 142 outside worker positions and an additional 76 12 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 inmates that work as maintenance assistants outside of the perimeter. There is 108 other inmates working in industry, training, and other PHILACOR programs that take them out of the secure perimeter of their facilities. Every day these inmates leave the secure perimeter or their facilities to work at a variety of location throughout the entire northeast prison campus. These inmates do perform a number of functions for the system including ground maintenance, janitorial services, trash removal and other general maintenance functions. Only inmates classified as low minimum or community custody are permitted to participate in the programs. Their record is reviewed by the Inmate Placement Committee prior to assignment to an outside program. In accordance with J v H, our consent decree overseeing the prison operations, we have to maintain 1200 workers and 800 vocational training slots. That is mandated by the courts. And I think that's an important aspect of our operation to understand. If they were not permitted to participate in work, industry training, or vocational training programs, we would fall to about 142 work positions and 283 vocational training 13 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 positions short of the mandated requirements of the Jackson Court. Preventing escape is an overall system function. It must be addressed at a system level as part of our overall comprehensive program of security, facility, and procedural upgrades. I am aware of the concerns that have been expressed by our neighbors in Northeast Philadelphia, as well as concerns of City Council. To this end, I have personally met with our neighbors and our elected officials on numerous occasions. We have established and will maintain and operate a community alarm system and a information system they can call when the alarm is sounded.
But you still haven't answered my question. They escaped. You have explained to me what the programs are. We know the programs and we know we have a to maintain training and other vocational aspects in terms of the prison and what we need to keep them occupied and for us to be able to comply with Jackson Hendrick. What steps have you taken at the present time to be able to assuage the fears of the 14 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 community that these escapes are not going to continue?
How have you secured the perimeter? What is the difference between what you were doing when the escapes occurred and what you are doing now? What are these things that are happening? What are the procedures that you have put into place?
My name is Press Grooms, Deputy Commissioner of Operations. Certainly, our position is to try to maintain a secure environment at all times. And in view of what has happened in the recent months, what we have done is we have looked at our entire security program. And to address the particular issue about inmates escaping from the prison system in terms of transfers, these two inmates that escaped several months ago, what we have done now is we have established a transportation procedure wherein no 24 inmates will be transferred during the hours of darkness. 15 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
What is that? I mean, you have established a transportation procedure; fair. What is that transportation procedure that you have established? The transportation is this, bam, bam, bam.
That's what I'm getting to. First of all, we identify the inmates that are going to be transferred the day of the transfer the day before. So that when they come on duty at 7 o'clock in the morning, we know that morning who's going to be transferred. The transfer lists are established, the inmates are identified, and they are in receiving room by 9 o'clock that morning. We are searching all the inmates before they leave the institution. We have a supervisor that's in charge of making sure that they are searched. The inmates are then shackled and placed on the bus. There's the driver for the bus, there's a security officer on the bus, and there's a vehicle that follows the bus to the institution they're being transferred to. As I said, all these transfers have to take place by 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Previous to that, we were sending out transfers late in the 16 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 evening, 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening. So that's one thing that we have done. The second thing that we have done is the officers that are doing the transfers have been retrained on how to search to make sure that the equipment that the inmates are being secured in is working properly and that they know how to work the equipment. We are just continuing to upgrade and monitor, and we have supervisors at the middle management level to check to make sure these things happen on a regular basis.
Commissioner, could you describe for me the types of crimes that the trusted inmates are in your facility for? Because as far as I'm concerned, if I live in that community anybody in that place is a bad guy. (Applause.)
So medium, close, supervised, trusted, could you describe for me crimes that those trusted inmates have committed?
Councilman Rizzo, let me 17 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 describe what is the criteria for putting or placing somebody in that particular status. Community level inmates have a history of community stability, no 5 institutional misconduct, qualify for community program by virtue of time served, constructive behavior in acquired skills and job readiness. They will not be supervised by prison staff during their programming day, but during the evenings they will be managed as if they were minimum custody.
Commissioner, I'm not concerned about their behavior once they got there, I want to know what got them there. (Applause.)
Normally, they are non-personal crimes, they are crimes against property. They are not a threat to the safety and security of others. That's the type of crime that they're charged with.
How does a person -- what is the criteria -- would you describe the criteria of how an inmate that has bashed the windows in on my car comes to your facility and now is a trusted inmate? How did that occur? How did he become a trusted inmate? 18 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
An inmate basically would be charged with -- is it burglary, was it auto theft, vandalism, crimes to that nature. There's other factors involved concerning their personal history and any other criminal history that they've had. They're also evaluated for stability as whether or not they can be relied on to do anything for any period of time outside in the community, and that applies to their history within, that applies to their capability of performing certain jobs within the prison system. Normally, they're there, they're incarcerated for a certain period of time, they're evaluated by Social Service, by a psychologists if necessary, and they go before a placement committee who determines whether or not they would be a threat to anyone outside working outside in the case they were to abscond.
So there's a lot of judgment by a lot of people that puts a person in this trusted category that has the ability to basically to walk out of the facility?
Yes, sir. They could walk, they're outside of the secure perimeter, whether it's inside a lobby or outside on the 19 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 grounds.
So they're some bad people -- obviously they're there because they're some bad people, that immediately -- and you didn't tell me how long that process takes. That they've committed a serious crime, in my opinion, and all of a sudden they get to your facility they're nice guys, they're trusted. How long does it take for a person to get to the point where they're evaluated?
They're evaluated upon admission. Within three weeks, they would be eligible for a job. When they apply for the job, that's when they would be considered whether or not to take that job.
Three weeks to determine, to make the determination. That doesn't mean that they're going to get a trustee job.
You also in your remarks indicate that most cases it's staff negligence that is responsible for these breaches of security or dereliction of someone's duty. Are you referring from the top down? (Applause.) 20 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
I'm referring to the line staff. It's the responsibility of the administration set the policies and procedures. It's up to the line staff to follow those procedures. Let's take, for example, the transportation unit escape. If you want to look at the track record, Councilman, the transportation unit has been transporting approximately 100,000 inmates a year over the last several years; as long as I've been in the system, well over two million inmates, and they've had one escape. The policies and procedures concerning the transporting of those two inmates were in tack, but they were not followed to the T, so the staff was negligent. Their negligence as far as not following the policy and procedures were the direct cause for that escape. It's up to the administration to ensure that the policies and procedures are there.
I have two final things. The policies, the physical plant of your institution, we're talking about staff negligence, dereliction of duty. The facility itself, are there 21 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 weaknesses that you don't like about it that you would like to change to make it a more secure facility that you're not able to get accomplished because of budgetary problems? Are there weakness at all in your facility that you need fixed?
There are no weakness in our facilities at this time. The entire security system for this department has been under scrutiny for a number of years by not only myself, but several other administrators within our department and with the consultation of outside consultants, experts in corrections who have evaluated our entire prison system. All of the secured perimeters within our system are adequate and meet our needs. However, again, I must emphasize the fact that having a secure perimeter and having policies and procedures does not eliminate the fact that people are going to be negligent from time to time. They need to follow those procedures. If they do it 364 days a year and did not do it that one day a year, that's not acceptable. But if that happens, we have to take the proper action against those individuals and exam all the aspects, for example, with the transportation unit, the escape 22 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 from the bus. We examine all those aspects from top to bottom. And had nothing to do with an outside perimeter; had to do with a secure bus and how we transport prisoners.
But there is a problem. You feel it's part of the management supervision, proper supervision or what?
In every one of these cases, Councilwoman, in every single one of them, it was evaluated whether or not there was some negligence, and none of the negligence from these cases stem from supervision or management. It stems from line officers.
When someone takes a walk, the residents don't know whether they're a trustee, whether they're this or whether they're that. (Applause.) 23 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
All they know is that they're free to roam the neighborhood, that's all they know. And I think the people from Holmesburg Infield have been more than patient. I've been in Council years. I lived in 7 Holmesburg 30 some years. And I know what the 8 programs, and I think they've been more than 9 patient. I don't have the answers. You're the one 10 has to have the answers. I feel there must be -- 11 evidently there's a problem with management within 12 the prisons. There has to be. 13 (Applause.) 14
Commissioner, my 15 final point is that I do know a lot of police 16 officers, police officers that work in the district 17 that cover your facility. They are amazed, they 18 scratch their heads sometimes when you're having a 19 problem at the facility. (Applause.)
I mean, they're absolutely amazed that you're having a problem at the facility or there's an escape and they're parked outside the facility and don't know what's going on. (Applause.) 24 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
Do you have a policy? Do you call 911? I mean, it amazes me. A police officers told me a bad guy walked by the police car and no one on the street had a clue that something was going on for hours inside the facility. (Applause.)
Anytime there's an escape, Councilman, we notify the police immediately. We notify the police department immediately. The first call is made to our transportation unit who are on the grounds transporting and patrolling inmates. The second call is made to the police department, and they have to dispatch that as quickly as possible. In any type of an escape situation, that's what occurs. And those procedures are in place. If somebody drops the ball as far as not responding or not carrying out that communication, I can't account for -- once the call is made to the department, I don't know who is responsible for getting that word out to the district cars, but we make that call as quickly as possible.
Is that a matter of record? Is that a logged call? 25 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
So you could produce a document that shows that after an incident is reported, a report of an escape or someone walking away, that that occurs at o'clock, that once it's 7 determined that persons's not accounted for, that at 8 10:15 there's a call to 911? 9 Well, you know what I would suggest, 10 Commissioner, knowing a little bit about the police department, rather than just hoping that they get the information that maybe we ought to be sure that that's a Priority One job. (Applause.)
Number 2, automatically a supervisor from the police department, the lieutenant, sergeant on the street should come right to the facility to start coordinating activities with your people. (Applause.)
I mean, just to hope that the police got the message, let me tell you, Commissioner, that's sad.
Why was the decision made to go into silence mode of testing the COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 alarm system?
The decision was made after a meeting with Infield Association and because there was a Catholic school nearby who were bringing their children in every time there was a test of the alarm system, it was alerting them unnecessarily. We had not planned to do audible tests forever. We had planned to do it the first year or the first six months to make sure that it worked. That's why we're doing a silent test.
Well, we'll hear from Infield Civic Association and also Holmesburg to answer that as well. Councilman DiCicco.
Thank you. Commissioner, you answered one of my questions, the volume of people that are transported, about 100,000 a year you said, right?
Do we have the times the most recent escapes occurred? Was that in the daytime or in the evening?
That was on the 3 to 11 shift. The transportation escape, it was on the 3 27 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 to 11 on both, the transportation and escape in the House of Correction gym.
So 3 to 11. So what the deputy pointed out as to the new policy would prevent -- I mean, those weren't happening during the day, that's what I'm getting at. So the corrective measures you're taking about should eliminate some of those problems.
It should eliminate the problem, and including one other thing, we have an escort vehicle with all transport bus transports. That escape with two prisoners was from a bus, from a transportation bus which is now also escorted in addition to doing the transports during the daylight hours. We feel it's a safer mode to do that and that's our goal to transport only during the day.
One of the questions that my colleague asked about the calling of the police department when an escape occurs, you looked like you were about to go a little further with that; were you? Did you have any other further 28 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 response to that? Is it just a 911 call, or is there a direct --
It's a direct call and a 911. It's faster. The procedures, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the procedures are using 911 and calling the district directly, Northeast District.
Right. What I was going to say is that it's a standard procedure to do that. It's not something that is done ad hoc. It is standard policy and procedure to notify the police as soon as there's a escape or major disturbance.
Councilwoman Krajewski was about to ask a similar question. Does it go to the captain's office? Does it go to whomever.
But direct to the District? 29 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
Well, I believe the community did ask for a hotline. Are you doing to rectify that?
To the 8th District to the 15th District. (Applause.)
We have not installed anything like that, but we can certainly look at that. If that's going to improve -- we have not taken an action.
Because the police are the ones who took the brunt of that, with the escapee.
If I may, I see the Deputy Manager Director Joe Martz shaking his head yes, maybe it's a good time for you to come forward.
Well, actually, I think that the Commissioner should have had that 30 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 answer.
Councilwoman, I hadn't had that request, but I will tell you that we will put hot lines in. You have my word on it. I didn't realize, but it's something that we can obviously do.
You know, the community has been promised so much, and I can attest to it. They had requested it, and as I said earlier, they've been very patient. Nothing's happening.
They had requested that hotline. I'm sure that when the two civic associations --
I appreciate that. I'm just saying that I just heard it for the first time and I was nodding because I know that we're capable of doing it, that's all.
It was the 8th, the 2nd, the 15th, as I stated that the police took a lot of that when it was a federal problem. They didn't know anything about it. 31 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
Commissioner, could you describe for me the sequence of events and what I understand sometime is extreme caution in alerting 911 of an escape. How much time do you take to analyze, investigate, before, even if the person lost within the institution, how do you determine whether or not you have a person outside the wall, outside the institution? Tell me how much time that takes your staff to start reacting, once you determine, once you have a feeling that there's something wrong?
If there is an observable escape, obviously things flow immediately. Actions are taken immediately. And again, the first call if it's an escape, if it's the breach of perimeter the first call goes to the transportation unit because they are on site and they can investigate immediately. The second call would go to the police department, and the third call would go to the other institutions for assistance. It takes a matter of seconds or less than a minute probably to get at least two of the first calls out.
That's not what I'm talking about. Forgive me for not knowing the exact 32 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 language. You have a head count?
Now, that's what I want to know, how long after you come up with two short, do you hunt through the prison an hour, an hour and a half, two hours before you do something.
Number 1, it is not unusual to have a miscount on a head count the first time around. Unless there is something observed or something, some evidence of escape or something visible, the procedure is to do a re-count on the head count. If it is still not accurate then they do an arm band count. Everyone returns to their areas and all the arm bands are checked. This takes probably an hour to do. So again, unless there's evidence that there's been a breach of the perimeter or an observable escape, we're not going to be able to get the jump on it, on somebody who manages to get away, which is unusual but occurs occasionally once in a great while. 33 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 If it's an observable escape, that's a different story altogether. Or somebody comes across a breach of the perimeter, then automatically we would go into an arm band count. After we ascertained that everone's there. But if you look at our facilities and you look at the numbers involved, the number of inmates that have to be checked, it takes several minutes to get everyone back into the areas, in their housing areas and then several minutes to check their arm bands and then find out who is missing. I mean, that's the nature of the operations of large facilities.
Each inmate has an arm band with their photo on it and information about that individual. And that's what's checked as far as identification to make sure that is the person.
Commissioner, talking about -- I asked you about your plant, your facility. Are there any electronics. We monitor prisoners that are in house arrests, and I know that's not a flawless process. Is there any technology that could be utilized that your 34 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 operation center could keep track of prisoners electronically while they're under your custody? Is there anything out there that could make this process -- because it concerns me that if you have a head count that's too short that you have to take an hour just to verify whether you have somebody walking away -- and I've heard, with no disrespect, that sometimes it takes longer than that before you're even aware of the situation that you're dealing with. Tell me about technology, and if it's available, have you asked for it?
Well, there is technology available, but there isn't any really reliable technology. The problem with trying to track prisoners is that there are many ways to get around the technology and to get around the software and to abscond by, again, basically flaws in the technology. If there's any kind of weaknesses in whatever technologies I've seen, they will be capitalized upon. For example, and we've seen it on TV and on a number of programs and it works great on TV, but in the real world applying that type of technology has a lot of flaws because it can be violated very easily and it's more problematic to 35 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 try to maintain it than it is to utilize it.
Commissioner, could you provide to the Chair -- this is an area I'm interested in. Could you identify institutions throughout the United States that use some type of internal tracking of prisoners. And you mentioned that it's not full proof, but I'd be curious to know and I'd be willing to work with Mr. Communication back ther, Joe Martz, to see if there's technology that's working someplace. Because if you're keeping track of the people inside the institution and you know there's a compromise of your facility, I think that would make the community feel a lot better knowing that they wouldn't have to wait two hours to be aware that someone's gotten out the gate. So I'm sure your inner circle of people that do what you do you must know somebody throughout this big country that's using a system that works. And I would personally like to find out if something like that would work here because, let me tell you, I'm a guy that the earlier you know you've got a problem, the better you can deal with it and the better the community, I'm sure, would feel if this mix of technology and professional correctional officers 36 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 would work well. So could you do that?
Get it to the Chair. One question I want to ask regarding the trailers at the old cannery.
How many trailers are there? I understand that -- I've heard from neighbors that they see an increase in the population of those trailers. And if so, how come I was never notified or the community? You know, I don't want it to become a trailer park, and that's what it looks like now. (Applause.)
Torresdale Avenue, believe me I can walk to Torresdale and Rhawn, State Road and Rhawn. I believe we have had it. And there's no reason to constantly putting trailers in the old cannery, Commissioner. Now, if that's the truth, I want to know why I was not told. (Applause.)
I don't know 37 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 who it is, Public Property, whoever it may be that's putting trailers in there and not notifying me. I don't want to hear it from my constituents. I want to know what's going on when it comes to those trailers as well. How many are there?
I believe there's six and one bathroom trailer. I think there's seven trailers all together.
And give me the time element they were put there, from when until when?
I believe there was three trailers that were added, three living trailers that were added about a year ago. About a year ago last summer, the end of last summer.
I'm told there are more. Are you saying there are only seven trailers there? Seven to me is like 700.
There's always been four in the front. They were built there ten years ago. And then there's three more added in the back and a 38 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 bathroom trailer.
How come I wasn't notified so I can notify the constituents? (Applause.)
You know, Commissioner, I have been patient as well with you. You know that. I try to work along with the administration, but I had it up to here, too. It just seems that we have a lack of communication what goes on in Holmesburg and Infield. It's just a lack of communication or it may be a lack of respect. (Applause.)
And as I stated I want to work with you, I work with the community. They know how long I've been working with you and commissioners long before you. Well, I don't want to hear one more complaint because what is going to happen, it's not just going to be little hearings sitting here and listening to it, there's going to be a lot of action taken if anything more is put 39 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 into that neighborhood. (Applause.)
First, I would like to -- because it's getting late and they do have a bus, I would MaryEllen Auman up and Jeanette who are the civic leaders of Holmesburg and Infield Civic Association. One moment before you speak. Commissioner, may I ask one question? Do you have to go to L & I to get permits for these trailers?
Well, would you get back to me, Commissioner, on that about how you got the permits and what the procedure is in order to put that those trailer there?
Good 40 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 afternoon Joan, and others.
My name is MaryEllen Auman, A-u-m-a-n. I represent the Infield Civic Association in Holmesburg. Go ahead.
I'll go first because MaryEllen is much more diligent with her paperwork and I just have small testimony. As I said, my name is Jeanette Maliszewski. I am with the Holmesburg Civic Association. I live 4227 Rhawn Street which is directly up the street from the current Fromhold Correctional Facility. I share my home with my husband and our four children. They are why I am here. One morning in late fall of last year -- 41 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 or early fall of last year, I'm sorry, I was standing on my front porch. I was talking to a neighbor and we were both surprised to see several corrections officers walking past our home. They were obviously on a mission. And one of them had a rifle on his shoulder. That was completely unsettling to us. They were looking all around and even stopped a SEPTA bus and searched it. I made several phone calls to find out what was taking place. There had been an escape. I was not able to find this out officially for several hours after the escape actually took place, even though we have a community alert system in place. This last paragraph is just one example of the many stories that neighbors have to tell. They are not nice stories, and after each incident, we are given assurances of big improvements that will take place. Well, here we are again. We have once again gathered as neighbors from the Holmesburg community, we are again discussing our inability to feel safe in hour homes and streets because there is something lacking in the management of the prison system that is unfortunately located in our area. 42 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 At least 150 people came together on an evening in March and informed the prison commissioner that they were displeased with events that take place near their homes because prison administration doesn't seem to be able to keep the inmates in custody. That evening turned out to be yet another evening of idle talk. When will the talk be done and when will we see someone in this city who actually cares to do something besides talk to us? I have no more spare time for talking, it's time for actions and changes. (Applause.)
Thank you Councilwoman Krajewski. Before I begin my formal remarks which are very brief in order to give our good neighbors more time to tell Council what it feels like when these breaches occur. It is my honor and privilege to introduce to you -- do not place blame on Commissioner Costello, this is not his remarks, he's very well aware of what I'm about to say. In the recent past a certain Deputy 43 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Mayor who is not here with us today, and we will deal with him later, was very proud to say at a prison ceremony to name call the good and decent people in Holmesburg. It is my honor, it is my privilege to introduce to everyone in this room the wonderful neighbors from Infield Civic and Holmesburg Civic who have traveled here today, who are also known in the mind-set of a certain Deputy Mayor, and Mayor Rendell has been very well advised, as the street corner folks who are trying to run the Philadelphia Prison System. Please acknowledge our good neighbors. (Applause.)
Thank you. Good faith, good citizenship, and a rock solid belief in our right to speak out when the public safety in our Holmesburg neighborhood is compromised bring us back again today before the Members of the Committee on Public Safety. We thank all of you for the attention you continue to give to our concerns. We would like to extend our appreciation to Mr. Bob Eskind who is the Public Information Officer of the Philadelphia Prison System who against great odds continues to 44 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 give us his ongoing courtesy. We are here today to deal specifically with the breaches of security that occurred within the approximate time frame between September 1997 and March 1998 at the various institutions within the Philadelphia Prison System. We extend special thanks to our good neighbors who have managed to shift their responsibilities in order to give you a firsthand account of what it is like when an escape or walkaway occurs in our neighborhood. The relationship between our community and the Philadelphia Prison System seems to pivot somewhere between chaos and understanding. Chaos when an inmate breaches security, understanding when a small break through in communication occurs, chaos again when it is suggested to us we should not speak so freely to the press. In recent months the Infield membership has been at the receiving end of some very poor behavior from those who administer the daily operation of the Philadelphia Prison System and from several others who represent Mayor Rendell. The pressure we have brought against the Philadelphia Prison System seems to have created an atmosphere of 45 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 denial that anything is wrong. One example of this is the recent unilateral decision to move into a silent mode of testing the alarm system. Despite what the Commissioner has just testified to, we cannot in good conscience agree totally with what he just told this Council. The Philadelphia Prison System never sent letters to our schools in the area after many requests by both organizations in order that the principals would have good solid knowledge of what was going on. Yes, that may have contributed to his decision. However, our impression at the meeting, the board meeting with Infield, was that the alarm had created so much confusion in our neighborhood it would be a more prudent way to go to utilize a silent mode. Neighbors here are justifiably upset about this. Our question now becomes, how will we know? Are we now reverting to a judgment call as to when the audible alarm will be utilized? Will this be satellite transmission from deep in space, some sort of laser beam method, or will it simply be yet another exercise in the standard smoke and mirror system? 46 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Ladies and gentlemen, we live in Holmesburg hours a day. Our neighbors are fed up 4 at the protracted struggle we continue to endure 5 regarding safety issues. We have not asked for 6 much. The right to feel safe, the right to truthful 7 answers, the right to be treated decently. 8 If walkaways from the Philadelphia 9 Prison System are the norm, don't expend your 10 energies in covering it up. Tell us, that's all we 11 ask, then we will know what we are dealing with. 12 (Applause.) 13
If inmates are permitted 14 certain latitudes in our neighborhood, we have a 15 right to know. The Infield community has always 16 acknowledged the formidable responsibilities of 17 operating such a large correctional system. We have 18 never acted in a irresponsible manner regarding 19 prison issues. 20 Administrators boast proudly that they 21 are regarded as a model throughout the world, China 22 I believe is their most recent claim. I'm afraid we 23 have to reel you back in, gentlemen. This not 24 China, this is Holmesburg. You are most certainly not considered a success in your own backyard. 47 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Prison administrators have traditionally discounted the value of a solid, trustful working relationship with our surrounding communities. Unless and until a serious attitude adjustment occurs in this regard, the Infield community in particular holds out very little hope that positive change can occur. We are tired of wasting our time. Thank you. I would be very glad to answer questions. (Applause.)
MaryEllen, tell me exactly what is the problem between the community and the administration of the prison? What is it they're not doing or giving any answers to? Are they meeting with you? Are they promising you --
Joan, we have for many years many, many promises that have never been brought to reality, and that's fine. We're still seeking an answer to that question. It's a very difficult question to answer. We're not asking for much. The attitude that's been displayed recently and in the past is one that the surrounding community truly doesn't have the right to intrude into prison activities. 48 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Now, we recently -- Infield had recently requested a policy be written into the policy and procedures in the Philadelphia Prison System, and I do give Commissioner Costello a great applause in doing that very, very swiftly. He did that, it is now written in, and we do appreciate it and thank him and have thanked him previously. Beyond that, we feel we're continually seeking solutions. We're so frustrated that at this level we are just so appreciative to this legislative body, but we are so frustrated and so intent in restoring peace that we are considering kicking our concerns over to the state level. We're at our wit's end. I cannot answer that question.
A quick example is the community alert system that we were working with the prison administration on establishing has many kinks yet to be worked out. We would respond, for instance, we were asked to several different sounds that they would like to use as far as alarms were concerned and to give our opinions as to what one 49 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 would be the best one to alert the community. I was doing that for a period of time and then all of a sudden that stopped. Most of my neighbors voted on one that isn't even being used. It's a different one that we did tell them is not consistently heard every time it's sounded. Suddenly we now have inaudible alarms when we weren't yet through working out the kinks. At the town meeting that we had there were several people who suggested that maybe one alarm right there on that building is not a good idea because it's right up against the people's home and that possibly two of them back along the prison corridor would be a better idea. We've heard nothing more. We've been told we will discuss that at a later date. These are things we would like work out with you. It's never happened.
I want to hear that answer now. Commissioner, would you please come up?
At our town meeting in March. 50 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
We are looking at the alarm system as it is operating today trying to get whatever capability as far as the audible sound, the volume as much as possible. The problem is that putting another alarm system is going to be somewhat costly, but we'll look at that. We'll still look at whether or not that would be feasible to put another alarm somewhere else inside the community.
Do you have a meeting with MaryEllen and Jeanette occasionally just to see how things are working out and what the problems may be? Do you three meet?
We've met fairly recently. I'm certainly available to meet with them whenever they feel a meeting is necessary.
Could I add to that, with your permission? And I know Councilwoman has been very active in what's going on up there. But I think therein lies one of the bigger problems. I keep hearing about this communication thing. Why couldn't you structure it so there is a regular monthly meeting or bi-monthly meeting, you all 51 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 decide how frequently you think you need to meet and be more proactive than reactive before these things occur. I mean, I asked a question when the meeting was in March and you're saying you're looking into it, but maybe if you told them in April what you had found as of April, it may not be everything that the community wanted but at least they know something is still going on. I think the impression is that they ask, they hear no response, so they assume, "Well, I guess we're forgotten." And I hear you saying, Commissioner, that they're not forgotten. So I think it's really a question of communication. I've been through two marriages so I know the problems with communication, so I've learned that I have to communicate a little bit better and I would pass that on to you. I don't mean to make light of the situation. It's very serious. I think if you would do a regular periodic meeting -- I don't know what the civic associations do. Do you meet regularly, do you meet monthly? And maybe you could coordinate that with the civic association. Have either yourself or a representative from the prison attended the regular community meetings so that someone is there even if 52 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 there's nothing that concerns the community, but they hear what's going on and maybe you can add something to that. Really become part of the community, because you're there. A lot of people would like for you to go away, but it's not going to happen. You're there and they're there and we want to keep these people there. We don't want people to move from that community. I think if you really partnership with them and just be a part of this, you are neighbors. Whether we like our neighbors or not sometimes, you are our neighbors. And I think that that may go a long way in at least addressing some of these problems. You may not be able to get all the solutions that we want or all the answers to all the problems that we have, but at least we understand the issues and maybe come up with some solutions.
Or if you can't make their meetings, a representative who can speak for you.
I actually try to meet with them personally whenever they want a meeting, 53 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 and that would be still my priority to meet with them.
But Commissioner, I think -- not to interrupt you, but normally that's probably after something happens.
Why don't the of three of you set a date before we leave here when the three of you are going to meet?
And establish a regular date or month, the date of the month or every other month, whatever you decide that's comfortable with all of you and just have those meetings.
And they don't want to be placated, Commissioner. They want answers.
Councilman DiCicco, you made a very, very good point. I'm very sorry to tell you Councilwoman Krajewski has recently requested that we restructure our Criminal Justice Advisory Board, and that board was formed in 1992 by Councilwoman Krajewski and consisted of dedicated leaders throughout the northeast, and it's my sad task to 54 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 report Public Safety Committee that because of the poor manner in which we've been treated --
I'm too much of a lady to tell you honestly what I've been told on the phone by community leaders up and down the board.
Mary, I suggest that you and Jeanette pick from the business community yourself six, seven members and form one. I absolutely believe you should form it, an advisory, that you do need meet occasionally with the prison.
But I think you need something more on a local level.
In that regard, Joan, I do have a brief letter, if I may, before we bring our good neighbors up. This is a letter from a business man who has serious concerns. Can I quickly enter this into the record? May I read it?
Thank you. This is from Gina's Day Care. Gina's Day Care is located more within the boundaries of the Holmesburg Civic 55 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Organization. The man writing this letter tried desperately to be here today. Since he has such a solid investment in our community, he and his wife own a day care center. He also is an investment counselor and he could not be here. It is entered into the record. I can provide the Commissioner with a copy. Addressed to the City Council of Philadelphia, prison break-outs and community safety. My wife and I operate a day care center in the Holmesburg area, and naturally, any break-outs from the prison poses serious danger to the community and especially to our children. The community must know about any break-outs right away if it is necessary to take precautions with the children. The prison has a responsibility to let us know. Doing away with the community warning system could endanger our children. Please do not do this. I ask you to think of the children first. Furthermore, inmates should not be walking away from the prison at all. To keep our children safe, there must be a zero tolerance for break-outs and walk-walkaways. Do whatever it takes 56 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 to stop the walkaways and break-outs. Our children are counting on you. Sincerely, Michael J. Craig.
Thank you. Is there anyone else to testify? Please come forward. The three of you can come up. Thank you. Please state your name for the record.
My name is Patricia Sheasley. That's S-h-e-a-s-l-e-y. I live at 4219 Meridian Street. I live within walking distance to the prison, and I've been there for 38 years. My problem here is with escapes, yes, that's a problem, a big problem. I have a problem with walkaways. I have a problem with people being left out because of a mistake. I mean, excuse me, a mistake? I mean, this person walks away, they have no money. Where are they going to go? How are they going to get money to go where they want to go or to make a phone call? People are let out day and night because they're being released into our community, which I feel they should be taken somewhere else. It's bad enough we have the prison. Now, the other thing is we have 6,000 beds in the prisons at the present. Now that one has to be replaced, and I agree with that/, they 57 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 want to add 2,000 more beds, and this is my big concern. We have 6,000. Okay, 2,000 more, what's the difference? It's prisoners' row. Holmesburg don't deserve any respect. We just have to pay our tax that go up, up and up. And our neighborhood is going down, down, down. And part of it is the prison system. Now, you figure 6,000 people, if they get two visitors, that's 12,000 other people that influx our neighborhood. Now, 2,000 more, that's 8,000. That's 16,000 people coming and going through our neighborhood. I don't feel that that's acceptable. And I don't think we should have to accept anymore beds in anymore prisons. We have neighborhoods that need to be rehabilitated. What's the difference if they get a prison? We have blocks that are like nothing. Put a prison there. The Commissioner Costello says he has no problem with being commissioner if the prisons are not all in one spot. Is that ever looked into? I think not. Prisons are there, keep adding, adding, adding. It's not fair to our children. The last prison is how many years old? The new prison, nobody knew anything about it, boom, 58 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 signed, sealed, and delivered, we got it. We were promised a community center. We need a playground desperately. We don't have anything. We don't even get the grass cut. This is where our kids live and we pay taxes and we get prisons. Now, I think something else has to be done. Mayor Rendell has to look into this. We are a community that has taken care of our community and are considerate to everybody else. I think we went a long way. And now we want a little respect here. We want to be safe, we want an alarms system, and we don't want to hear about what goes on in the prison because that's not important to us. But if a person is not accounted for, how many times do they take a head count in a day? I mean, when you're in school, you have to have a head count in the morning, at lunch, and sometimes when you're leaving. I mean, I just don't understand this walk away and these people being released into our community at any hour of the day and night. I think it's time for a definite change with respect to the people who live there and pay taxes.
Thank you. (Applause.) 59 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
My name is Richard Boettinger, B-o-e-t-t-i-n-g-e-r. I live at 4640 Wilbrock Street in Holmesburg. I've been a resident there about years when the old 6 Holmesburg used to be open. I've gone over -- I've 7 seen quite a few escapes from the old prison. And 8 one afternoon, I think it was eight or nine guys 9 come over the front wall with the prison guard 10 supposed to be in the tower, it still happened. 11 The new prison was supposed to be an 12 up-to-date, state-of-the-art unit. As we found out 13 today, there's been 12 escapes so far this year. 14 Nine of them have been walkaways. I've talked to 15 Warden Costello a couple times, one time in the 16 prison when we were there visiting, and to me, I'm 17 an avid hunter, I like to duck hunt, and water runs 18 off a duck's back. When I talked to him, walkaways, 19 to me it seems like water just running off his back. 20 To me, he really doesn't care about walkaways. 21 The prison system should be -- the 22 outside, the walkaways or the outside people should 23 be able to take care of these individuals that are out there on these work details. I've also talked to Warden Costello about K9 units. I believe he 60 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 said that they had K9 units before, but they bit the prisoners too much, or something like that. Well, if the prisoners deserved it, that's a shame. It's hard, it's difficult to run from a dog. You might be able to run from a prison guard, but a K9 unit, it's hard to do that. Many years ago getting, back to the walkaways again, many years ago on Crater Street there was a break-in in a young lady's house. The walkaway raped this young lady in front of her two kids. And it's just to me -
Since the new one has been built. My problem with this is now. The old prison, individuals are thinking about restoring that. You cannot handle -- well, I understand, I mean, it's on record. They can't handle the prisoners that they have now. What are they going 61 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 to do if they open the old Holmesburg Prison once again? (Applause.)
I have grandchildren in the neighborhood and I have my wife and my daughters plus the neighbors. What happens if another walkaway walks or runs away and he decides to rape another woman?
My name is Marybeth Marzulli, and I live 8340 Walker Street. Approximately two years ago, I was in my breakfast room looking out of the deck and I saw a head running by the deck. I went outside and there was a young black man in his underwear running through my yard, ran onto my barn, and I said, "What are you doing?" And he said, "They're chasing me." He jumped on top of my barn, jumped over the fence and disappeared. Shortly thereafter, I had police cars come down the street. I happen to live a private street and my yard ends in Pennypack Park itself. And the police came and they searched, they were after one of the trustees who walked away 62 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 and discarded his orange jumpsuit so he would not be quite as obvious. Approximately one year ago when I was out feeding my horses, I saw a man jogging down the bike path, and you know how sometimes you just discern that there's something wrong there. And this man looked like he was running from something. He had navy work pants, a light blue work shirt, and he was running and then he'd slow down to catch his breath, and he started running really fast again, and he'd slow down to catch his breath, run again. He had a little arm bracelet on that looked like you had been admitted to the hospital emergency room or something and had just come home, and he left. And I told my son, I said, "You mark my word, this is another prison escape." Fifteen minutes later we heard the alarm, and 15 minutes after that I saw one correction officer walking down the bike path. I stopped him and said, "Are you by any chance looking for a prisoner?" And he said yes. I said, "Well, you missed him, he's gone, he left about 30 minutes ago, probably on the bus to Frankford Avenue." I'm very concerned by the attitude that 63 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 the Northeast Holmesburg area needs another prison. And so when I got notice of the town meeting, I was very glad to see that other people were as upset as I was. I went to the town meeting, had the opportunity to express my views and what occurred in my house which was published in the Daily News. And then Commissioner Costello graciously offered for the community to go on prison tour, which I gradually accepted. At the end of that tour as we were speaking with the Commissioner, he was talking to some of the members of the community and stated that -- was very irate at the fact that the Daily News had been at the meeting without his knowledge. My contention is if you have nothing to hide, what does it matter what news media is present? (Applause.)
He also stated that he was very concerned that they reported unfounded statements, and not knowing who I was, he proceeded to tell the community people there that the statements that I had made at the town meeting were unfounded and not true. Needless to say, I was very irate that my integrity was questioned. I had 64 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 witnesses to both incidents. And unfortunately for Holmesburg, walkaways are common. You know, I am concerned at the attitude is they have been deemed psychologically not dangerous to our community, and I think all of us know psychologists who are probably dangerous to our community that have allowed murderers, rapists, you name it, to be released. I don't want prisoners in my yard. (Applause.)
I'm also concerned with the fact that the park is very quick access to both prisons, and that park is filled with, not just young children, but older adults, people walking thinking that they should have the freedom in their community to take a nice walk in the park. The park is a direct access that a lot of these prisoners go down the bike path, into the woods, straight to Frankford Avenue in order to get away from the prisons. My concern also is the fact that about three years ago whenever there was an escape, I used to see a lot of police, and I have had police on my street and in my barn all hours of the night before looking for escaped prisoners. I don't see the 65 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 police anymore. I see one correction officer. I think that it's time that Council and the Mayor realize that our community has a right to be safe. And I think before they make any plans for any other prisons they need to make sure that our community --
Well, that's one of the reasons that we're here and that's one of reasons that the Infield and Holmesburg have been holding their meetings, and that's why we're here. Hopefully, when the Commissioner meets with Jeanette and MaryEllen something will -- more communication lines will be open. We are running late. Councilman DiCicco has to leave here very shortly. So I would like to all people. Yes, sir.
My name is Fred Moore, 4103 Stanwood Street in Holmesburg. My concern is the transportation, transporting these prisoners on State Road. Heaven forbid that the old Holmesburg ever opens up again and now they'll have to be transported on Torresdale. Why can't a road be built behind the prison? There's plenty of property back there. I 66 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 know it's going to cost money. We got to come up with it. A road built behind the prison for transport within the facilities.
Well, there are people from the Administration here, and hopefully some of those questions can be answered. Mr. Martz, did you hear that?
My name is Peg Bisirri, B-i-s-i-r-r-i. I live at 4600 Emerson Street. My husband and I operate a greenhouse business. What I'm very concerned about is we have greenhouses, and these prisoners that get out, we never know for sure if they jump the fence and get in our property. Also we were not aware -- I was not aware that they had stopped and made a silent alarm. That at least forewarned us. Every time I heard the alarm, I could go outside, warn my husband to make sure that at least he would come in the house to be safe. After all, he's 74 years old, and I do want him to be protected.
Thank you very 67 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 much.
My name is Margaret Kett. I live 4633 Wilbrock Street, and I just have one quick point to make. I think it would be very interesting to have a comparison of the log from the calls that the prison supposedly made to 911 and the district compared with the log of the calls actually received. I have on more than one occasion come from home from work between 7:30 and 8:00 in the morning and found out from KYW that there was a prison escape the day before. (Applause.)
I had been awake and in the yard and did not hear an alarm. I really think it might be to the Council's best interest to compare the logs to make sure that these calls are actually being made.
Good afternoon. My name is Ed Jackson, I live at 8053 Irving Street. 68 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 My concern is the position that the prison system has in designating a prisoner as a trustee. Something needs to be done in that respect to do a better evaluation in regard to this particular individual becoming a trustee. He's there because he has violated his rights as a citizen -- (Applause.)
-- to start with. And he's going to use every advantage to get to that position of a trustee in order to escape from that facility. And if he's using all his ability and all his conniving expertise to gain that position, at the first opportunity he's going make a break. And this is putting the community, himself, and the whole City in jeopardy. You said now he can do this by threats to the staff, he could do this by intimidation and do this by monetary passing. And this is being done in order for him to gain that status. And until something is done in that respect, I suggest that every prisoner in there ought to be under maximum security at all times. (Applause.)
Ruby Adams, 8332 69 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Torresdale Avenue. I wanted to more or less ask Mr. Costello about this silent alarm. Is that supposed to be like a dog whistle? Do I have to watch my dog? Do I get an antenna? How do we know? And also I'd like to know whether or not within the last six weeks was there an escape from the cannery? They either went out the kitchen window or the bathroom window and no alarm went off. (Applause.)
Just a moment. We're wrap it up with you, Commissioner.
Pressi's (ph) Bar there, he also said there was an escape and everything there, and I've heard it and I'm not going to give my source out that there was an escape, but not one alarm went off. And I think even if they're at the cannery, no matter what they did, if they walk out a window, they go out any window, if he didn't give them permission to leave, that's an escape. We should know. (Applause.)
All right. Bob. 70 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215
Good afternoon, Joan. I'll try to be brief. My name is Robert Smith. I'm at 8017 Walker Street. Coming down here today, I was explaining to my daughter the purpose of this meeting, and on the way down she a wanted to know if she could speak. And I thought a lot of what goes on affect the children of the community, so if Council doesn't mind I'd like her to say a few words first.
My name is Marissa Smith. When I hear the prison siren go off, I get scared and lock the doors because it's scary because when the prisoners break out they go through Pennypack Park which is behind our backyard. In the last prison escape, we couldn't go outside in school and we had to stay inside. If you decide to make Holmesburg Prison a prison again, think about the safety of the people in their neighborhood. They will be very scared. So give the Holmesburg Prison to the community so we can make a recreational center or something good for the community. (Applause.)
Very good, very 71 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 good.
A few comments and points. I'm really concerned because our civic association gets calls from prison guards leaving messages on our machine, because we don't always answer, saying different problems that are going down the prison. These guards need a way to be able to vent what's not being handled properly, whatever rules are not being done. There has to be a way that they can do this without worrying about being penalized for it because the guards seem to get the blame no matter what happens down at the prison. Generally when things aren't working right, they change the manager, not the team. The gentleman said that the vehicles when they leave now prisoners are to have a vehicle following the bus. I always thought that was procedures that before that just wasn't followed. That may or may not be correct, I don't know but from what I understood, that was supposed to happen all along. It's just getting to a point now where we have a fire house right around the corner and we seem to hear the prison siren more than we hear the 72 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 fire siren. I grew up in Tacony and Holmesburg all my life, and for all these years, maybe 35 years, I only heard rarely someone escaping from the prisons. Now, this last two years we have 12. By putting more prisons in our neighborhood, it just gives us more of a chance to have more of these problems in our community, makes it more of an unsafe neighborhood for us. We were concerned when current Fromhold was built. Now there's talk of more prisons being built. We want no more prisons in Holmesburg. There was a meeting held in March, and as far as I'm concerned, to me, it was a dog and pony show. There was a bus brought up and people put in shackles and told how things were going to work and we had a lot of promises of a lot of things people asked for, and the Commissioner promised that we could look into a lot of things. I hear today we can look into a lot of these things. I don't know how many things we're looking into are actually being addressed. (Applause.)
Promises don't cut it. We 73 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 need some results.
I want specifics. Specifics when you meet with the Commissioner.
I'm glad Councilman DiCicco mentioned that. I thought that was a great idea.
Thank you, Bob. Commissioner, just for one moment please. Is there anything you have to say?
Thank you, Councilwoman. I would just like to say that I listened to everyone here today, and I will certainly meet with the community and address any of the concerns that they have. I have always been available to meet with them. I'm sorry that one of the neighbors feel that the meeting was a dog and pony show. To me, it was an opportunity to educate the community on how we transport prisoners and why this happened and what we're doing to prevent it in the future. And I will continue to do that. I will continue to do whatever I can to communicate with the community and to 74 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 educate them on prison procedures, and I hope that it will be helpful to us.
It's only two people, Commissioner, that you have to meet with, Holmesburg and Infield. It's not like you're meeting every day in the week or you're communicating and you have to pick up the phone every day of the week. You have two people that they can go back and tell their people exactly what's going on. Is that fair enough?
They don't want promises. They want action. I want action. (Applause.)
So what I'm going to do, I will stay in touch with the Public Safety Committee here, Councilman Rizzo, Councilman DiCicco, and others, and they are very, very interested as well as I am to know what transpires. 75 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 That is that right, Councilman.
Absolutely. I know that the facility is within Councilwoman Krajewski's district, but if there's anything I can lend aside from my role in this Committee, I'd be more than glad to help in any way I can. Again, I really think that just by the fact that you establish an agenda, a time for meetings specific, a date certain, I think that will go a long way in at least getting that information out. Again, we may not have all the answers to the questions and it may not be satisfactory to everyone, but going forward, I think we can avoid some of the anxiety that is out there because I hear a lot of anxiety out there. It's justified, there's no question about it. (Applause.)
Thank you very much. I want to thank all of you for taking time out to spend a couple hours down here at City Council. Mary and Jeanette, I'll be in touch with you. 76 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - RES. 980215 Thank you all very much. That ends the resolution on Public Safety. - - - (Adjourned at 2:45 p.m.) - - - 77 C E R T F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of June 16, 1998, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public