Stevens Township Residents Get Lowdown On Fighting Crime for State Police

By Jean Vande Mark

 “Is Stevens Township a hot spot for crime?” one Stevens Township resident asked the State Police Commander Sgt. Louis Altieri at last week’s informational meeting in the Community Hall.

With a smile, Altieri said that it is not. “I love coming out here to visit. It’s nice and serene.”

The sergeant said that in the last six months, Stevens has had a total of 28 reported incidents. Of these, 11 were car crashes (two hit-and-runs, two non-reportable and seven reportable) with the majority happening on Highway 706. The other 17 occurrences involved two traffic violations, three assaults, three warrants served and three drug incidents.

In contrast, he said that Bradford County as a whole had 273 reportable crashes, in the same time period, with most taking place on Route 6 between Wyalusing Township and Claverack; 220 below the North Towanda Police barracks; Highway 14, north and south and Route 414.

Explaining his approach to fighting crime, he said that “the troubled areas are where we put the largest amount of manpower.”

With 34 troopers assigned to his command, Altieri said that 50 percent of policing is “proactive,” meaning taking steps to “combat problems and have a reduction in crime” before it happens; 20 percent serves as “presence patrol” and “this is a detriment in and of itself” and 30 percent is “reactive” or answering calls on assaults, crashes, burglary, drugs and such. He added that his command also has a drug unit and several other special units.

Explaining that Stevens Township is assigned to the East Zone Patrol and “we’re looking to see that whatever we do is solid.” Altieri said that “Community involvement right now is the biggest help we can get.”

Trooper Howard Piatt agreed, advising that a neighborhood watch in liaison with the State Police would be most helpful. “It is important for everyone to be involved and keep an interest in it.”

Piatt said that neighbors would choose a block captain and, “in a word, look out for each other. Information exchange is the name of the game.”

He also cautioned residents not to confront any would-be bad guys directly; rather, be observant, notice a strange car in someone’s driveway while that neighbor is away, watch for dirt bikes and four-wheeler violators, or just notice a vehicle parked alongside the road. Jot down the license number and call the police.

Altieri said that if a citizen calls in a report and wishes to remain anonymous, his wishes will be respected. However, it is much more productive if the caller is willing to testify to what he saw.

Township Supervisor Randy Campbell asked, “If the local police are covering an area, are you less likely to be there?” The commander said that his troopers would be covering when the local force is not.

Piatt also had several suggestions for families, saying they should

— place a detailed description of how to get to their house right next to the phone, especially if they have children

— let the neighbors know what vehicles they are driving

— video the items in their house and keep the tape somewhere else, and

— be sure to have an accurate list of items owned and have a way to identify them.

He added that the police have an engraver, which would be available for families to borrow and use.

In the question and answer period, community leader Betty Harris invited everyone interested in organizing a community watch group to a follow-up meeting at the end of August and asked that interested parties who might have an opinion as to the direction the community should go in, should call and/or attend that meeting.