In Wake of Shootings, Detective Challenges PPD to Step Up West Philly Coverage
The El station at 60th and Market streets | Google Street View
A Philadelphia Police detective well-known for his use of social media challenged his department in a series of Twitter postings Sunday afternoon, decrying recent violence in West Philadelphia and suggesting it wasn’t getting the same attention from brass as Center City crime.
Detective Joseph Murray‘s tweets came in response to a Sunday afternoon shooting at the SEPTA station at 60th and Market streets; that incident left the victim, an unidentified man, in critical condition. Two other people had been killed in the neighborhood in recent weeks.
In response, Murray suggested Sunday afternoon the department needs to step up its foot patrols in the neighborhood.
This never happened out there. Need a foot beat ASAP. https://t.co/AB7mhHGqXy
— Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray) January 3, 2016
And he suggested the area wasn’t receiving the same attention as Center City crime, despite a clear need:
60/Market is an El stop and a business area. Oh, and the biggest drug block in SW division. It's not 15/Market though so
— Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray) January 3, 2016
Since Christmas two kids who hung out there have been killed and one more shot today. That's a major problem.
— Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray) January 3, 2016
He called for stepped-up patrols of the neighborhood:
@poseidonguy1 everyday. Put one there every single day. That's how it was when I was a cop out there and there wasn't an issue.
— Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray) January 3, 2016
@WestPhillyNews I'm really calling for awareness. It's an area that needs some serious help. Businesses/residents/cops need to work together
— Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray) January 4, 2016
Philly Mag requested comment from the Philadelphia Police Department on Sunday night and again Monday morning; as of late Monday morning, no response had been provided.
Murray last year received a Richardson Dilworth service award from Mayor Nutter for innovation in government for his efforts on Twitter. He has more than 6,000 followers on the social media service.
Follow @JoelMMathis on Twitter.
