Once is more than enough for Mike Chitwood.
Especially when it comes to “flash mobs.”
A week ago a group of 40 young people from West Philly took the El to 69th Street, got off, walked calmly to the Sears store, and proceeded to loot the place.
Chitwood, the top cop in Upper Darby, was not a happy camper. He vowed to take steps to prevent this kind of activity from taking root in his town.
Just how serious he is about it was evident last night. Chitwood says his department received information from a task force in Philly that another group might try a similar flash mob stunt. Police put on a fairly impressive show of force to ward off any problems.
You can read what happened here.
Good for Chitwood. Sure, they don’t call him “Media Mike” for nothing.
But with the El providing an easy in and out for groups looking to get in on this dangerous fad, Chitwood is in a tight spot.
Some no doubt will accuse him of once again grandstanding on this issue.
Bottom line? Nothing happened. Was that because of the police presence?
Who knows. But it beats the alternative, with kids rampaging through the township’s business district.
Chitwood’s advice to anyone considering using Upper Darby as a backdrop for this kind of group hooliganism is simple.
He’s said it before, only in slightly more colorful language:
Not in my town.
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