On Monday, August 13th, the Mayor of Harrisburg announced she would be forming a Public Safety Advisory Council (PSAC) "to assist public officials and law enforcement officers with crime prevention in the City of Harrisburg." Since September 2009, such a committee has existed, initially formed by then-City Council Public Safety Chair, Gloria Martin Roberts.

The current PSAC has continually met, working with the Harrisburg Police in an attempt to initiate projects that build better relationships between law enforcement and citizens.

At Mayor Thompson's PSAC kick-off meeting on August 16th, a representative of the on-going group, Chris Dick, took the mic to explain the organization and intentions of the existent PSAC.

"We certainly invite everyone to join us because we have an established community, " Dick said. In reply, the Mayor chastised the current PSAC for not contacting her office about the issue.

She said, "So, again, we came here tonight to start a Public Safety Advisory Council. If you guys want to join us, that's fine."

When Dick took the mic again to explain his desire to work together, the Mayor's Senior Advisor/Communications Director Bob Philbin yelled out from the back of the room, "Then join this committee!" eliciting agreement from the crowd. ---

Tara Leo Auchey

Photo/Natalie Cake