Reading Mayor Eddie Morán issued a statement Wednesday afternoon following the recent acts of gun violence in the City, requesting a “Community Call to Action” from local leaders and organizations.
“Nothing is more important to my Administration than keeping residents safe from senseless violence and restoring peace in our neighborhoods. Senseless violence, especially instances where firearms are used, is wholly unacceptable” said Mayor Morán.
“For this reason, the Reading Police Department has stepped up patrols and community outreach in neighborhoods where we have experienced violence in the last several days and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. The RPD took proactive measures to investigate all leads, gather intelligence on suspects and brief my office daily.”
With school back in session, the Mayor say his administration is on high alert. In his statement, Morán said that, even before the recent gun violence, City officials have set up meetings with the Reading School District to renew talks on providing School Resource Officers with already approved funding by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Mayor also stated that City government cannot solve the problem of crime by itself.
“We need a ‘Community Call to Action’ that includes everyone’s support and participation from non-profit organizations, faith-based communities, and neighborhood associations. If your neighborhood association has been inactive, this is the time to bring it back to life. We cannot do this alone.”
On Wednesday, September 22nd, Morán says he will be meeting with members of the Reading City Council during a Priorities Summit, with crime and violence being the first issue at hand.
“At that time, I will ask every member of Council to also identify community groups within their districts and help us engage with them directly. We will also look to schedule community forums to hear from members of the public and to share with them valuable resources while establishing relationships through our Community Engagement Officer, Lt. Lance Lillis.”
Morán goes on to encourage the community to work together, not only to prevent crime, but also report it.
“If you see something suspicious, call RPD at 610-655-6116. If you see a suspicious person, call the RPD. If you see a threatening post on social media, call the RPD. And if you see something in real-time, don’t record it and post it on social media. Providing recorded or photographic images could lead to retaliation and make the job of our police officers even more difficult. Even if you believe someone else called it in, do it anyway. We would rather hear from multiple sources to prevent crime than none.” said Morán
“Together, we can make a difference. But without our ‘Community Call to Action’ we will not progress. I believe in our City and its future. Let’s build a better Reading, together.”
