W-b Lauds Decrease In Crime 
Mayor Mcgroarty And The Head Of The 
Police Union Offer Different Reasons For 
The Turnaround

2 Hurt When Car Spins Out Of Control 
Bear

By P. DOUGLAS FILAROSKI; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, January 09, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 6A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Rather than hammer each other, Mayor Tom McGroarty and city
police officers should have a reason to pat each other on the back today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A City Hall press release says McGroarty plans to announce criminal
activity dropped locally last year. The mayor will be joined by police
officials who will explain the "tactics behind the drop." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. at City Hall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In interviews earlier this week, McGroarty attributed the reason for the
drop to several programs he instituted with police this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They include police "saturation patrols" in high-crime neighborhoods and
the mayor's new Neighborhood Impact Team. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 1996 figures weren't released. But in 1995, the city's crime rate --
the number of serious and violent crimes -- rose significantly from 1994 to
the second highest level in eight years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nationally, serious and violent crimes, which include murder, rape,
robberies, assaults, car thefts and burglaries, have dropped in major cities
the past two years, the FBI reports. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although McGroarty attributes a drop in crime to his administration's new
programs, a police union official says the public shouldn't lose sight of work
by individual officers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If, indeed, the crime rate is down, people who should get the credit are
the officers on the street," said Ed Soltis, president of the Police
Benevolent Association. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The union and the city administration are stalled in negotiations about a
labor agreement. The police contract expired Jan. 1, and talks seem headed to
binding arbitration as both continue to criticize each other for the failure. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Soltis said today's announcement could help restore the community's esteem
for officers, which he said has suffered in recent weeks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think it's time someone gives credit to the officers," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mayor Lauds Programs In Cutting W-b Crime