Upper Darby Borough Council Meeting

At the last meeting of the Upper Darby Borough Council, Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said that crime had dropped over the year and that this was largely due to the efforts of the borough’s police officers.

Bernhardt reported that the overall number of serious crimes had declined.

There have been two homicides this year, compared with seven in 2023, a 71% drop.

Attempted murders were down 85%, shootings were down 21%. Robberies were down 35%, aggravated assaults were down 24%, and sex crimes were down 32%.

Bernhardt praised the work of the men and women of the department who have performed admirably in a time of 21st century policing changes and high retirements.

“I have to give credit to all the men and women who work here, and I can’t say enough how proud we are of them, and of all of our detectives,” Bernhardt said. “The reductions here are a credit to them. The men and women who are out there every day, and the detectives as well.”

He said there are active arrest warrants for a domestic homicide on Kent Road in February and a homicide in July in the 7100 block of Penarth Avenue. Police have search warrants in the works and hope to have both suspects in custody by the end of the year.

Bernhardt said the department will conduct a recruiting exam in October and hopes to hire five officers, bringing the borough’s total to 138.

He added that the department’s newest member, Angela Faraglia, was sworn in last week.

Bernhardt also announced that Sean Kenny had been promoted to captain, Michael Taylor and Brian Gieder had been promoted to sergeant. Several sergeants had been promoted to lieutenant: Louis Garay, Laina Stevens, William Sminkey, Kristine McAleer, Daniel Oliveri and Michael Scott.

Bernhardt said six officers recently received certificates authorizing them to use five drones that played a key role in a recent car theft investigation.

In other police news, Bernhardt said a newly formed special operations unit that includes highway patrol officers, mountain bikers and traffic complaint handlers has made 86 arrests so far.

This unit deals with traffic complaints, school absences and quality of life issues across the borough.

In addition to the arrests, the unit issued 111 non-traffic tickets, including for disorderly conduct, public drinking and possession of small amounts of marijuana, 4,151 tickets for traffic violations and 184 parking tickets.

The total number of calls to this unit represents 1,600 of the 39,000 calls from residents this year.

Bernhardt said police work with the school district on bus patrols and have issued about 1,000 tickets to vehicles that passed buses.

The Police have put a new Rescue Unit van on the streets, which is adapted to transport and deliver equipment.

Police have ordered gun lock boxes to be distributed to residents who legally possess and register firearms.

Licenses and inspections

Director of New Licensing and Inspection Department Amrinder Singh presented an overview of improvements in the department, including a formal written mission statement for his 25 staff.

He added that the administration is working to make the department more modern and user-friendly.

They face technological challenges, including using software technology from the 1980s that limits their efficiency. They want to upgrade the software and hope to find a supplier by the end of the year.

Singh added that another problem is outdated forms and ordinances, which they are working with the administration to update.

Other matters

The council also passed an ordinance to pay city employee pensions: $6.4 million will go to the police department, $1.4 million to the firefighters and $1.9 million to the civil service pension plans.

All pension plans are at or near 80% coverage, said Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones.

The municipal resolution expressing support for immigrants was adopted unanimously.

ARPA lawsuit

Attorney Brian Killkenny reported that Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Barry Dozor on Monday presided over a hearing in a lawsuit over the municipality’s use of American Rescue Plan Act regulations.

On Tuesday, a judge ruled that the prohibition on the borough reallocating ARPA money contained in Ordinance 3141 regarding the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation remains in effect.

The judge called for further communication between the foundation and two meetings, and strongly encouraged the mayor and council to be involved in evaluating the grant application, which the judge will consider at a hearing on November 4.

Tea party

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Borough Treasurer David Haman called Kilkenny a “kingpin who manipulates council members and invalidates the local government charter.”

Haman stated that there is taxation without representation and adding a visual accent by throwing tea bags in front of council members.

Many other residents shared his feelings.