Perkasie mayor provides update on review of police procedures
Mayor John Hollenbach gave an update about the investigation following the shooting of Michael Marino Jr. by Perkasie police at the Perkasie Borough Council meeting Monday, Nov. 19.
The shooting took place in Sellersville June 9. Residents have been asking for more information about the shooting at the borough’s meetings.
“When an incident of this nature takes place, there are certain processes that automatically come into play,” Hollenbach said.
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Perkasie police Chief Joseph Gura, meanwhile, reviewed the department’s existing procedures, processes, policies and training and took a look at how those things could be improved, said Hollenbach.
Hollenbach said now that that step has been completed, the police department’s procedures and processes will be reviewed by a police chief from another community.
“I’d like to thank everybody for their patience in this incident,” Hollenbach said. “I think we all wish it could move faster sometimes, and it’s frustrating when things take so long.”
Council also heard a report from Lee Rush, the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy vouth Coalition’s community mobilizer, on the organization’s results from the past year. The coalition strives to prevent risk behavior, such as VuEVWDQFH DEuVH, VSHFLfiFDOOy in the youth population.
Rush said a survey was sent out to 3,000 students on what it was like living in their community. The survey determined how many “assets” the students had. These assets may include having family support, reading for pleasure, participating in community service and being involved in creative activities. The more assets, the more likely the students are to exhibit thriving behavior and fewer risk behaviors, Rush said.
According to the organization’s report, there has been a 12 percent increase in the total number of students reporting 20 or more assets. Also, 36 out of 40 assets have increased since 2002.
Rush said the biggest substance abuse problems involved legal drugs, such as alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs. The most se- vere concern is alcohol, said Rush.
Rush said one of the reasons his 20-year-old daughter had made good choices in high school and beyond was thanks to her environment in Perkasie. He talked about her positive community including the Pennridge School District, Perkasie Borough, neighbors, friends, grandparents and her parents.
“They all helped contribute to a healthy attitude — each of us has a role to play in young people’s attitudes,” Rush said. “It’s not just one person.”
Following Rush’s presentation, council President Matthew Aigeldinger proposed creating a quality of life task force, which would work with community groups, church groups, the school district and organizations like Rush’s to help prevent drug abuse through education of young people and to promote healthy and safe neighborhoods.
Council voted to create the task force and will give further details in future meetings.
In other news at Monday’s meeting:
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• PHUNDVLH’V DnnuDl WUHH lLJhWLnJ HYHnW wLll WDNH SlDFH Saturday, Dec. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.
• 7hH ERDUG GHFLGHG WR keep brush collection open for yard waste for the next four Saturdays so the public FDn JHW ULG RI GHEULV IURP Hurricane Sandy.