A tale of 2 towns, 2 crackdowns

This was unquestionably not the start to summer that officials of two Delco towns envisioned.

It started Friday night in Darby Borough, where five violent incidents in a 72-hour period sparked officials to enact a state of emergency.

Mayor Helen Thomas vowed, “we are taking the borough back.”

A tough new curfew mandates citizens be off the streets from 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Anyone out at that time is subject to a stop-and-frisk procedure, with a focus on groups of three or more. Officials say they will keep the measure in place for 30 days.

Police say they made several arrests on Friday night and were pleased at the effect of the curfew.

Just two nights later, the same scenario was playing out in nearby Darby Township.

Gunfire erupted on a basketball court on Hook Road. Two men were shot.
At least 10 shots were fired as 25 people milled around the scene.

So officials decided to follow Darby Borough’s lead. Darby Township has now implemented a 9 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew.

Welcome to summer in Delaware County.

Comments