Zarek Yerger

Accenting Diversity 
Regional Managers Of A Foreign Exchange Student Program Hope To Extend It Into
The Hazleton Area.

By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@leader.net
 Monday, February 10, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE - City Police Chief Tony George on Sunday denied that he told
officers not to make many arrests in downtown Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Downtown residents Steve and Mary Saive said last week that officers told
them ``off the record'' that they were ordered not to make many arrests to
save on paperwork. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; George said those remarks are either ``fabricated'' or officers just didn't
want to make arrests, because they were ``protecting'' someone such as a
friend or family member of theirs, or of a council member, who was patronizing
a prostitute. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The chief also suggested that officers whom he disciplined might have made
such statements in retaliation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``There were several officers disciplined in the last year. I'm not well
liked in the department, but I work for the citizens of the city. (Some
officers) make $50,000, $60,000 now, but don't think they have to earn their
money. They have to do their jobs, maybe that's why they're upset,'' George
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 George also said there was ``no way'' his captains would give orders not to
make arrests. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Saives, who own an apartment building on West Ross Street, are
circulating a petition seeking state help patrolling downtown. They have told
City Council in recent weeks that officers rarely respond to prostitution and
drug-dealing calls in a timely fashion and rarely make an arrest when they do
show up. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Councilwoman Kathy Kane and Council President Mike McGinley have said they
support the petition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 George said he received a letter from McGinley about two weeks ago asking
about orders not to make arrests. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The chief said he responded that there are reports on every incident and
officers are required to make an arrest if evidence supports one. He said he
requested from council the names of officers who said they were given such
orders so he could investigate, but he received no response. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Neither Kane nor McGinley could be reached Sunday for comment. However,
Kane had said officers are afraid to speak out because of retaliation from
Mayor Tom McGroarty. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty said he doesn't want ``to get down in the sewers'' with someone
who would make an ``undignified'' comment like that that may be ``politically
motivated.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty noted recent prostitution stings city police conducted with state
police netted only one arrest. ``Would the state police not make arrests
because of paperwork?'' McGroarty said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The mayor also said officers' supposed remarks to the Saives don't make
sense. He said arresting officers are the ones who do the paperwork, not
supervisors or the chief, so they would have no reason to give such orders. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Saive said he doesn't blame the police. ``They try to balance their
priorities. They say, `We could take them in, but if something more serious
happens in this block, you have to fend for themselves until someone can get
here.' '' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mary Saive said officers told her they were tired of arresting prostitutes
``and seeing them the next day because the magistrate would let them go.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty said if a police officer didn't make an arrest when warranted,
the complainant should report the officer to the chief and the officer should
be given the opportunity to correct his behavior. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mary Saive said McGroarty was ``putting a happy face on a problem that's
been here for a long time.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 George also defended the department's downtown crime-fighting and
crime-prevention efforts. He said an officer on horseback and an anti-crime
unit car patrol the area regularly in addition to an area patrol car. He said
crime has significantly decreased there during the last few years and four
prostitutes were arrested in the past month. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the Saives still think police aren't doing enough. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mary Saive said police should arrest on suspicion of drunken driving a
``john'' who picks up a prostitute in his car when police stop to talk to the
driver and smell alcohol on his breath. She said officers tell her they can't
unless they have probable cause for a DUI stop. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 George said officers must operate by the rules of criminal procedure. He
added that police can't arrest a known prostitute just for walking down the
street. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``This isn't a police state, which I guess those people on South Franklin
Street want,'' George said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 George confirmed that police do know many prostitutes by name. But that's
because they arrested the prostitutes numerous times, not because they're
friends with them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 George said police tell people they see loitering to move along. If police
see the person loitering again, the person can be cited for defiant trespass. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But police can't arrest someone for loitering on the word of a citizen
unless the complainant is willing to testify, George said. ``Usually, they
don't want to get involved. That leaves our hands tied.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Faces Arresting Verbal War 
Police Chief Says There's No Truth To Comments Made By Downtown Couple, Who
Say Cops Told Them They're To Keep Arrests Down Due To Paperwork.

W-b Faces Arresting Verbal War Police Chief Says There's No Truth To Comments Made By Downtown Couple, Who Say Cops Told Them They're To Keep Arrests Down Due To Paperwork.