Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Police encourage common sense in pandemic
NEW GARDEN » Local police are on high alert and remain vigilant during the national emergency gripping the nation and especially Pennsylvanians.
“Use common sense,” said Chief Gerald R. Simpson of the Southern Chester Regional Police Department on Thursday. “Keep your social circle small now, it may just be a family where you’re sheltered-in watching TV or going for a walk where you’re permitted.”
The chief said, “Be smart about your social distancing. Don’t be where you really shouldn’t, otherwise you might increase your risk which increases our problem.”
Simpson encouraged the public
to be very vigilant right now especially pertaining to anyone trying to talk those who are philanthropic at heart into something that sounds too good to be true.
“In crisis there are always people who try to find the bad opportunities such
as scams,” he said.
Like firefighters and emergency management responders, tests for coronavirus were unavailable to police officers in Chester County, as of press time.
The police department is holding daily field calls with personnel in wake of the crisis, Simpson said. He also connects with regional police departments three times a week.
“Asking our neighbors, ‘How are you doing?’”
This includes discussing resource supplies.
Simpson is joining frequent calls with the county’s emergency management community across the region from Oxford to Kennett.
“We are really circling the communication wagon,” Simpson said. “We’re being very vigorous … so we can stay ahead of this as best we can.”
First responders
Simpson said he has asked leaders in Pennsylvania if there has been consideration for prioritizing the testing of coronavirus for first responders given the calamity of the crisis.
“We are not more important than anyone else,” Simpson said. “But, we as first responders are in the most critical role to make sure that there is public peace.”
He said he couldn’t begin to describe how important the community’s first responders are.
“If we were to shelve our people because of the unknown — that could be a problem.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of the men and women who work here,” Simpson said. “Particularly given the circumstances we are under now.”
There are 25 sworn law enforcement officers and one chaplain working for the Southern Chester County Police Department in New Garden. Staff includes one executive assistant, and one records administrator.
“People who are first responders, of one form or another, should certainly have priority,” U.S. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th of West Chester, said on Friday. “We definitely are not there yet in terms of capacity — which is why I wrote the letter.”
“I said to one of my command officers the other day that I’m here at work right now,” Simpson said. “We are considering maybe a quiet remote working rotation, but, I believe as a leader you don’t leave. I don’t lead from a sanctuary.” Still, the chief is being cautious. “I have to lead from the battlefield.”
March memo
“We do the job to safeguard public safety under the most dreadful of circumstances. At no time in my 37 years of law enforcement did I envision an unforeseen foe with a capacity to disrupt all of our service capabilities.
“Truly a formidable opponent. But, like every adversary we have encountered in the past, this too shall pass,” Simpson wrote staff in a memo to the SCCRPD on March 19.
“I know you’ve heard me say it before, but for the record, you are the proverbial link in the chain or spoke in the wheel that ensures that our mission is fulfilled. We are in the people business and that requires professionals whom like yourselves are dedicated and self-sacrifice on a daily basis for us to accomplish our critical mission,” he said.
“In the coming days, myself and the Command Staff will be employing vigorous communications practices with all stakeholders. I will endeavor to update your immediate supervisors as our practices need to evolve or other information emerges. Leading the environment and communicating expectations will mitigate our risks and enable you to perform your jobs.”
He told his team, “I will endeavor to command a gracious balance between that of our public safety responsibilities and yours to your loved ones.”
Eve of storm
Less than a day before President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus pandemic a national disaster. Less than a day before Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all schools closed in Pennsylvania. Less than a day before the economy, in many sectors, shut down.
The Southern Chester County Regional Police Department held its annual award and recognition ceremony on March 12 at sunset.
Police held festivities at the New Garden Township Municipal Building located on Starr Road, Landenberg.
The mission of the force is to honor: “Human Life, Justice, Integrity and Duty.”
The event began with the administering of the Oath
of Office to two new fulltime employees and two newly promoted employees. Braden Walsh and Brandon Krissinger took their oaths and joined the force.
Many more received acclaims and accommodations.
Simpson reflected Thursday that the awards ceremony, on the eve of the storm, was very uplifting to morale.
Simpson said emergency responders serve “critical roles” and in citation to civility.
“Right now there is peace ... We’ve seen our calls in this region go down,” Simpson said, in reference to last week’s number of incidents. “I will not be surprised if that starts to rise.”
Commissioners Award
The 2019 Commissioners Award went to Police Officer David M. Madonna, serving abroad in harm’s way. His family and friends were there to accept the honor in-person.
Madonna could not attend this evening’s ceremony as he is assigned to the Delta 1-50 Diamondbacks completing his basic combat training in Georgia for the Army National Guard at Fort Benning.
The final recognition of the evening, and most prestigious award to a police officer for conspicuous and exceptional work recognized the police officer’s conspicuous and exceptional work.
P.O. Madonna’s 2019 performance activity is best described as the line from the Shakespearean play, Comedy of Error: “Of credit infinite, highly beloved, second to none that lives here.”
For more information, visit https://chester.crimewatchpa.com/sccrpd.