BY GEORGE TOMEZSKO
Staff Writer

An overflow crowd and a veritable who's who list of public officials listened intently as city's new police commissioner, John F. Timoney, addressed a combined meeting of the Burholme Town Watch and the Burholme Civic Association. Timoney's talk focused on his philosophy toward running the Police Department and plans to made the department more effective in the war on crime.

Timoney said he is a strong believer in delegating authority from the top down to his district commanders, and in holding them responsible for the performance of the officers under their commands. In keeping with this approach, he said, he has removed restraints placed upon the district commanders by previous police commissioners.

"I am giving them the authority to deploy their officers as they see fit," Timoney said. "I am dead serious about sending authority down to the district level. I trust my district commanders because they are in the best position to know where the problems are."

Another approach to crime-fighting which the new commissioner wants to implement is placing greater reliance upon teams of police officers specifically trained to go after certain types of criminals, such as high-level drug dealers. He explained that certain types of crime can not be dealt with effectively by relying solely upon uniformed police officers walking 'beats.'

"A cop on a beat may make you feel good, but you may not be any safer," Timoney said. "It is an unrealistic expectation to put a uniformed officer there first without removing a drug organization."

Timoney said the police department under his command will be much more flexible than it has in the past when battling crime.

"We will employ a whole host of ways to deal with crime," Timoney said. "We will not be limited to relying on one method."

The new commissioner also called upon the public to get involved in efforts to defeat crime.

"It is extremely important that people like yourself sign onto our crime fighting efforts," he said.

This may already be taking place. Timoney said in the few weeks he has been on the job, he has been encouraged by the attitude of the city's citizens. He said he has sensed strong a pro-police attitude among Philadelphians.

"There is a tremendous amount of support," Timoney said. "There is a sense of wanting the police to step up to the plate. The people of this city want the police to be out there doing their job."

The new commissioner also pledged to back up his officers in the street to the fullest, especially when police are accused of wrong doing.

"I work on the assumption that police officers want to do the right thing," he said. "When it comes to investigating wrong-doing, I will make my judgement based upon the mind of the individual police officer."

But he was quick to add that officers who become over-zealous or corrupt have no place in his department.

"The police can never cross the line and break the law," Timoney said. "I am convinced you can have an aggressive police force without being brutal."

Timoney concluded his address on an optimistic note.

"We will turn the police department around," he said. "If I don't to the job, then run me back to New York or to Dublin."

Timoney was born in Ireland and served as the highest ranking uniformed officer in New York City for a number of years prior to his arrival in Philadelphia.

Al Taubenberger, president of the combined Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association, asked the commissioner if he would encourage police officers to perform field investigations in cases of auto theft.

"It's just outrageous when cops take reports over the phone," Timoney said, noting that victims of crimes like theft and burglary prefer to see a police officer in person. "They should do field investigations."

Timoney said he will place emphasis upon the quality-of-life crimes that bedevil many Northeast residents. He said he will rely on his district commanders to ensure that police officers are trained to deal with the types of crime prevalent in a given neighborhood.

One type of quality-of-life crime found in the Northeast is drug abuse. District Attorney Lynne Abraham, who was present, noted that a recent ruling by the State Supreme Court has rendered it virtually impossible for uniformed police officers to arrest street-corner drug dealers. This, she said, has made it necessary for her office to work much more closely with the police department.

"My intention is to be a Siamese twin joined at the hip with the commissioner on this issue," Abraham said.

Timoney was introduced to the more than 100 persons in attendance by City Councilman Brian J. O'Neill, (R-10) who called Timoney 'an answer to our prayers.'

Among the other dignitaries present were State Rep. Chris Wogan, his Democratic opponent, Bill McKeown, Captain Gerard Levins of the Second Police District, and former city councilman Jack Kelly.

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