The Police Liaison Committee met last week to discuss ongoing crime trends impacting the LGBT community.
The committee gathered Sept. 9 at the William Way LGBT Community Center and was joined by Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson and Sixth District Officer Joe Ferrero.
Ferrero briefed the committee on several recent arrests, including a prostitution sting conducted in the 12th and 13th Street corridors the previous night that netted seven arrests. Ferrero noted that one individual admitted to being HIV-positive and was thus additionally charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
Committee members raised concerns about persistent problems plaguing the Parker Spruce Hotel, including prostitution and drugs.
Johnson, who agreed the hotel has been a haven for crime for many years, said he would begin a review of the past complaints and arrests that have taken place in and around the establishment so that police can assess what action should be taken.
The deputy commissioner noted that many residents and passersby who witness illegal activity in front of the hotel often don’t call police, as they assume someone else has, but that’s often not the case.
“You have to call, even if you think somebody else already has. It’s still important that you call and report anything that you see,” Johnson said.
Committee secretary Rick Lombardo updated the members on several cases he’s been tracking, including this summer’s robbery and attack of a transgender woman at 12th and South streets.
The perpetrator, Jovan Pressley, was sentenced to six-23 months of house arrest, will serve one year of probation and was ordered to pay the court $82.
The committee also talked at length about the recent incident at Club Motivation in North Philadelphia, in which a woman was struck and killed by a car outside an LGBT party catering to the house-ball community.
The participants explained the history of this community to Johnson and discussed possible tensions between members of different houses, The group decided to reach out to leaders within the house-ball community to attend an upcoming meeting.
Committee members also planned for several upcoming events, including their presence at next month’s OutFest and an LGBT-awareness program at the Police Academy this month.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].