September 28, 2016

Continuing a commitment to community policing, the Kennett Square Borough and Kennett Township police departments are partnering to present a Public Safety Forum.

The debut event – the first in a series – will take place in the lower atrium of the Genesis Healthcare building at 101 East State Street in downtown Kennett Square on Tuesday, Oct. 11, starting a 7 p.m.

The forum aims to enable police leaders to present community safety issues where the public can freely discuss their thoughts and concerns about all aspects of public safety. Together, both departments provide public safety service to more than 15,000 residents daily. As a result, the relationships between the departments and the public they serve are critical to providing effective health and safety services, said a joint press release from both departments.

Addressing a recent Kennett Township meeting, Police Chief Lydell E. Nolt said the event would offer the public an opportunity to ask questions and learn about how the departments operate. “This is not a new concept, but it’s new for the township and the borough,” he said.

Nolt said the forum would be held several times a year at different venues throughout the community with each event highlighting a public-safety issue followed by questions and discussion from the public. Light refreshments will be served.

“More frequent and meaningful dialogue between the communities and the police departments is imperative,” said a joint press release from Nolt and Kennett Square Police Lt. William T. Holdsworth.

Holdsworth took over as acting chief following the resignation this past summer of Chief Edward A. Zunino, well-known in law-enforcement circles as a veteran practitioner of community policing.

During the past year, the borough and township police departments have participated in multiple collaborations, ranging from an initiative to reduce overweight truck traffic in the region and a National Night Out observance.

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, FBI agent Charles Dayoub will address the audience regarding he FBI’s role in providing assistance to local communities as well as protecting them proactively from outside threats. Both police chiefs will also make presentations.

Members of the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions, and they can even submit them in advance to KTPD@kennett.pa.us or hand them to the moderator – former Magisterial District Judge Daniel Maisano – at the forum.

Holdsworth said his main hope for the forum is keeping the lines of communication open between the police and the public.

“We want to assure the public that we are here to work with them and continue to grow in our ways of exchanging information,” he said. “It also provides us an opportunity to go over some specific topics such as crime prevention as it pertains to identity theft and recent scams we have seen throughout the area.”

The Kennett Square Police Department, which was founded more than 100 years ago, has always endorsed community policing as a method of operation. The department operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Holdsworth, who has more than 19 years of police experience, was promoted to lieutenant in July and placed in charge of the department while a search for Zunino’s replacement is underway.

The Kennett Township Police Department was founded in 2004 and in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police provides 24-hour police coverage. Nolt, a 15-year veteran of law-enforcement, was promoted to chief in 2015.

For more information about the Public Safety Forum, call 610-388-2874, ext. 124, or email ktpd@kennett.pa.us

• A 57-year-old man was arrested for drug possession in Concord Township on Aug. 20, according to a state police report. The suspect was not named in that report. Police said the suspect was stopped for traffic violations on Gov. Markham Drive at its intersection with Cheyney Road. He was found to be operating the vehicle while DUI and that he was in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, police said.

• Police said an unidentified 27-year-old man from Chadds Ford is suspected of stealing copper coils from an industrial-sized air conditioning unit. The incident happened sometime between 11 a.m. on Sept. 8 and 12:44 p.m. on Sept. 9. According to the police report, the property owner he had seen a resident flee from the area the day before he noticed the coils were missing.

• State police are investigating a hit and run accident that happened Sept. 13 on Naaman’s Creek Road at Route 202. According to a report, the suspect made a left turn against the light, and struck a vehicle traveling straight through the intersection. The suspect motorist fled and no vehicle description was obtained. No injuries were reported.

• On Sept. 15, sometime between 6 and 7:30 p.m., someone broke into two vehicles parked at Firebirds Wood Fired Grille on Route 202 and stole a Dell computer, a lawyer trial bag, a calculus book, a green messenger bag, a Steve Madden purse, two sweatshirts, a Mac AirBook and a wallet containing g $150. Damage included a smashed rear driver’s side mirror of one vehicle and a smashed front passenger window in the other.

• Bonnie M. Eroh, 62, of Marcus Hook, was cited for her involvement in a Sept. 19 traffic accident, state police said. According to the report Eroh was driving north on Concord Road when she stopped to make a left turn onto Smithbridge Road, but began the turn after the light had changed to yellow. On oncoming vehicle then struck her. No injuries were reported, police said.

• Two unknown men are suspected of stealing a wallet from an employee at Terrain Garden Café on Sept. 19. The incident happened about 5 p.m. According to the employee, two middle-aged white men, 40-50 years old, were seen near the employee area. She later learned that her debit card had been used at two different locations.

• Police reported that Michael Robert Bianco, 23, of West Chester, had engaged in retail theft at a Wawa in Chadds Ford. The accused was arrested, processed and released, the report n said. No other details were mentioned in the report of the Sept. 20 incident.

• Michael Schatzberg, 22, of Glen Mills, was arrested for DUI on Sept. 21, according to police. A report said Schatzberg was stopped for traffic violations on Route 202 at Stateline Road at 12:27 a.m.