Police brass to hold citywide meetings

With an eye towards improving the Police Department's relationship with residents, a host of commanders will hold community meetings across the city tomorrow night.

Members of the Internal Affairs Bureau, Police Advisory Commission and several other groups with take questions and keep track of concerns that are voiced by neighbors. A summary of those concerns will be submitted to Mayor Nutter.

"We require assistance of everyone in addressing the issues of crime and disorder in our neighborhoods," Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said in a news release. "We will hold our police officers to a high standard of conduct and we need citizens to be proactive in helping officers do their jobs."

The department noted earlier today that 26 sergeants and lieutenants are being transferred to Internal Affairs to improve its ability to handle a seemingly ever-growing bounty of investigations. Numerous stories of crooked cops have haunted the department for much of the year. On a related note, the Daily News learned tonight that a 32-year veteran retired earlier this week, after the State Police began investigating him for allegedly using a card counting device at the Parx casino in Bensalem. (Click here to read that story.)

The meetings will be held at the following sites from 6 to 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted:

Central Division

6th District: Chinese Christian Church & Center, 11th and Vine streets.
9th District: Community College of Philadelphia, Center for Business & Industry, 18th and Callowhill streets, 2nd floor, room C228.
22nd District: Winchester Recreation Center, 2330 N. 15th St.

East Division
24th District: Salvation Army, 1920 E. Allegheny Ave.
25th District: St. Hugh's Church, Mascher and Tioga streets.
26th District: Lutheran Settlement House, 1340 N. Frankford Ave.

Northeast Division
2nd District: St. Williams Church, Robbins and Argyle streets.
7th District: CORA Services, 8540 Veree Road.
8th District: Norcom Community Center, 10980 Norcom Road.
15th District: Disston Recreation Center, Disston and Glenloch streets, at 7 p.m.

Northwest Division
5th District: Kendrick Recreation Center, 5800 Ridge Ave.
14th District: New Bethel AME Church, 6153 Germantown Ave.
35th District: Holy Trinity Church, Marvine and Rockland streets.
39th District: Geiger Memorial Bretheren Church, 2543 W. Lehigh Ave.

South Division
1st District: St. Richard's Church, 19th and Pollack streets.
3rd District: E.O.M. Club, 138 Moore St.
17th District: Wharton Square Building, 23rd and Wharton streets.

Southwest Division
12th District: Ezekiel Baptist Church, 5701 Grays Ave.
16th District: Christian Stronghold Church, 4701 Lancaster Ave.
18th District: YMCA, 5124 Chestnut St.
19th District: Sweet Union Baptist Church, 1536 N 59th St.