FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Scott Burger

DATE:9/22/15 (484) 744-0045

McHale Releases Comprehensive Public Safety Plan “I am not part of any political machine and unlike the politicians who are unwilling

to admit – or attack – the real causes of our public safety problems, I will.”

READING, PA – Jim McHale, candidate for Mayor of Reading, today released a

comprehensive plan to make the city safer not just by cracking down on criminals, but also by

addressing many of the root causes of crime.

“For too long, the political machine in Reading and its candidates have paid lip service to public

safety but delivered no real results,” said McHale citing statistics that show how badly crime is

affecting city residents. “I am not part of any political machine, and unlike the politicians who

are unwilling to admit – or attack – the real causes of our public safety problems, I will.”

Statistics show that 87% of cities in the United States are safer than Reading. One in thirty-one

residents of Reading will become a victim of property crimes. One in one hundred fourteen

residents will become a victim of violent crimes.

“Parents should be able to let their kids walk to school and know they are safe, but right now

they don’t,” McHale said. “Reading is too dangerous today, but things can change. Under my

leadership your new government will work to make streets safe again.”

McHale’s plan focuses on four basic areas: partnership policing, common sense gun crime

measures, positive youth programs, and police staffing levels.

The goal of partnership policing is to make sure our citizens see our police as a partner in their

own efforts to keep their local neighborhoods safe. To help build that trust, McHale will:

1. Create a community partnership taskforce consisting of leaders from each

neighborhood in the city, the police department, and Administration officials.

2. Implement the Volunteers In Police (VIP) program that will encourage every

Reading police officer to volunteer eight hours a month to public service in the

community they patrol.

3. Create a police safety, training and accountability council to design a training

program to improve officer readiness; recommend improvements in skills

and equipment to make police more successful in their mission; and, advise on how

best to hold any bad officers accountable for their behavior.

“Our police have tough but important jobs and we cannot put them on the streets unprepared for

the worst possible scenario. These initiatives will usher in a stronger police force, safer

neighborhoods and more community trust,” McHale stated.

“Eliminating gun crime is never going to be as easy as the slogans that the politicians spout year

after year, because those willing to use a gun to break the law will break the law to get a gun,”

McHale said. “But I am will put for the effort to make sure that we make progress and Reading

is safer.” McHale’s plan focuses on three areas:

1. Teaming with county and state prosecutors to require full sentencing for any

individuals who commit a crime with a gun, or who illegally carry a firearm.

McHale will also petition the US Department of Justice to have gun crimes prosecuted

under the more strict federal statutes.

2. Developing a quarterly gun-take back program to encourage the removal of illegal,

unwanted, or unused guns from our city.

3. Lobbying state legislators to pass new laws that address straw purchases of firearms.

“Studies show that most crimes committed by youths happen between 3pm and 9pm – times that

are often unsupervised and unstructured,” McHale explained. “Common sense dictates that to

help prevent these crimes from happening – and stop another youth from entering the criminal

just system, we need to provide positive opportunities for our kids.” His plan here also focuses

on three areas:

1. Invest more resources into youth development and after-school programs,

especially in neighborhoods with the greatest percentage of single parents who may

not be available for supervision.

2. Create a police-school partnership to facilitate positive relationship building

between police officers and children.

3. Work with the school district and state to encourage volunteerism in, and provide

resources for, alternative after-school education programs.

Finally, McHale’s plan focuses on police staffing levels and working to put more police on the

streets. He said he will accomplish this by re-allocating city resources to core city services, with

policing being among the very top core services. McHale believes regional partners also have a

role to play. Regional partners, such as the County Sheriff, can assist in protecting our

community.

“Technology like cameras is nice, but it can never replace a real person on the street working in

cooperation with our residents when it comes to fighting crime,” McHale said. “By prioritizing

our budget and implementing the other changes I have outlined, we can and will make Reading

safer. And that is better for our citizens, and for our economy as a safer Reading will help attract

job creators.”

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