Community Policing on Main Street

"We're working our way up Main Street," said Borough Police Chief Phillip Crosson as he stood in Chatham Sandwich Shop, surrounded by Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan, Sergeant Brian Gibbons and shop owner Joe Arminio. Soon afterward, Vaughan, Crosson and Gibbons would pop their heads into Angie's Luncheonette before heading over to Cafe Beethoven to say hello to owner Andy Copp.

The police and the mayor were walking around town on Monday to informally meet with business owners to hear what they had to say. The police officers said most of their responsibilities involve administrative work, so they came out to Main Street this week to connect with the community

It's all part of Crosson's community policing initiative, which he has attempted to enact since he became the borough's temporary police chief toward the middle of December. He was permanently appointed to the job last month.

"This gives us an opportunity to hear some of the needs of the business district," Crosson said.

As Gibbons put it, "it cuts out the middle man to some degree."

The police made their way into Angie's just as it was closing. "How's business been?" Gibbons asked, right before their trip to Cafe Beethoven. The police repeated a similar process at each of the businesses they visited.

Crosson said such work can sometimes be undervalued. But he stressed its importance.

"It lets people know too that the police chief is approachable," he said.