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South Side Entertainment Patrol looks to drive violent crime culture out of neighborhood

South Side Entertainment Patrol looks to drive violent crime culture out of neighborhood
THE IMPACT AND THE FUTURE OF THAT PROGRAM. ON THE SOUTH SIDE, PITTSBURGH POLICE AND BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY ARE DETERMINED TO DRIVE VIOLENT CRIME OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THOSE THAT ARE COMING DOWN HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN UNRULY BEHAVIOR, VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. YOU’RE NOT WELCOME. AND IN THAT, WE’LL SHOW YOU YOU’RE NOT WELCOME BY BY ENFORCING THE LAWS AS WRITTEN FOR THOSE THAT ACT OUTSIDE OF WHAT’S COMMUNITY EXPECTS THAT OUR OFFICERS KNOW OUR STAKEHOLDERS, THE OFFICERS KNOW OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS KNOW OUR OFFICERS IN A WAY THAT THEY HADN’T IN THE PAST. SINCE THE SUMMER OF PITTSBURGH, POLICE REPORT THAT THE SOUTH SIDE ENTERTAINMENT PATROL HAS MADE 95 ARRESTS, CONFISCATED 18 GUNS, CONDUCTED MORE THAN 200 TRAFFIC STOPS AND HAD ISSUED MORE THAN 1000 CITATIONS. IT’S A COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OWNERS. THE GROUPS WERE FORCED INTO PROACTIVE MEASURES BECAUSE OF FIGHTS DISORDER, CONDUCT, SHOOTINGS AND VANDALISM DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. THERE, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY FIGHTS GOING ON OVER HERE? IS THIS HAPPENING OVER HERE? IS THERE, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN FRONT OF THIS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT HERE? THEN WE’RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO ZONE THREE TO THE COMMANDER. POLICE ALSO SAY THEY’RE ABLE TO STAFF THE SOUTH SIDE ENTERTAINMENT PATROL WITHOUT TAKING SIGNIFICANT OFFICERS AWAY FROM OTHER ZONES IN THE C
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South Side Entertainment Patrol looks to drive violent crime culture out of neighborhood
Business owners and Pittsburgh police say the South Side neighborhood should not be held hostage by the violent crime culture that has flexed mightily during the past several years.Frequent meetings between police, business owners, community organizations and individual residents have swelled into a network collaboration to react aggressively and deter criminal activity. "Those that are coming down here to participate in unruly behavior, violent behavior, criminal behavior, you're not welcome," said Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto at a gathering of police officers and businesses owners Tuesday. "And we'll show you're not welcomed by enforcing the laws written for those who act outside of what community expects."Police say the South Side Entertainment Patrol, which became fully active in July, has made 95 arrests, confiscated 18 guns, conducted more than 200 traffic stops, and issued more than 1,000 citations.Police say it's more than just officers patrolling the South Side between Thursday and Sunday; it's business owners providing covert eyes and ears to assist officers. "Our officers know our business owners. Our business owners know our officers in ways they didn't in the past," says Scirotto.

Business owners and Pittsburgh police say the South Side neighborhood should not be held hostage by the violent crime culture that has flexed mightily during the past several years.

Frequent meetings between police, business owners, community organizations and individual residents have swelled into a network collaboration to react aggressively and deter criminal activity.

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"Those that are coming down here to participate in unruly behavior, violent behavior, criminal behavior, you're not welcome," said Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto at a gathering of police officers and businesses owners Tuesday. "And we'll show you're not welcomed by enforcing the laws written for those who act outside of what community expects."

Police say the South Side Entertainment Patrol, which became fully active in July, has made 95 arrests, confiscated 18 guns, conducted more than 200 traffic stops, and issued more than 1,000 citations.

Police say it's more than just officers patrolling the South Side between Thursday and Sunday; it's business owners providing covert eyes and ears to assist officers.

"Our officers know our business owners. Our business owners know our officers in ways they didn't in the past," says Scirotto.