Coatesville Police plan to more rigorously enforce the city's existing jaywalking laws, Chief William Matthews said recently.

“People just seem to be oblivious to the fact that they are endangering themselves and endangering children that are sometimes with them,” Matthews said during a recent interview. “We need to bring attention to it.”

The video below appeared on dailylocal.com with my story.



The crackdown will begin with a grace period, during which time jaywalkers will merely be warned, not cited by officers, unless the offender’s behavior is “excessively dangerous or disruptive,” the chief said.

Coatesville police officer Claude J. Simpkins was arrested for allegedly assaulting a 17-year-old boy whom he believed had been selling drugs near the cop's Westtown home.

Click here for the story. To check out a copy of criminal complaint, visit Jennifer Miller's Chester County Cops blog.

The Coatesville Police Department has hired four new police officers, leaving just one vacancy in the department.

All for officers have earned their state law enforcement certification, and each was hired under the city's provisional hiring process. Chief Matthews said he expects the lone opening will be filled by someone selected from the newly compiled civil service eligibility list.

One of the Roundtable's loyal, anonymous commenters posted the link and text from a story in Friday's Daily News. It details the arrest of two alleged paperhangers who Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey helped nab Wednesday.

In light of the controversy around Police Chief William Matthews and the protracted pursuit of his state law enforcement certification, I debated making this a post, concerned it could be construed as some kind of editorial commentary.

It's not.

Only weeks after Coatesville Police Department appeared to get its head above water, regarding staffing, the situation is looming again.

The department has three vacancies now, plus two officers who have informed the chief of their intentions to retire soon.

Compound that with the poor showing by applicants on the recent civil service test -- only three passed, not enough for the city to start an eligibility list -- and the city has decided to continue the use of the provisional hiring process to fill the patrols.

For some time on Monday, city police were unable to communicate using their city-issued cell phones, which double as walkie-talkies.

The cause of the problem remains unclear, but according to Police Chief William Matthews and city spokeswoman Kristin Geiger the issue has been resolved.

Chief William Matthews talked about his first year as Coatesville's top cop in a story printed Sunday.

Among the revelations, the chief called his first year in the city a "whirlwind" and said Coatesville is his last stop before retirement.

Matthews continued not to give any more details about the medical condition that has prevented him from proceeding with getting state certification, but he said the condition has not caused him to miss any work. If the problem worsens, and he feels he cannot meet the responsibilities of his job, Matthews said he would willingly step down.

The following are some things Matthews said that did not make it into the newspaper.

About Lt. Julius Canale:

"(He has) demonstrated what true professionalism is all about ... When the gong has gotten tough he has been there ... Nothing accomplished this year would have been possible without the kind of professionalism and dedication he has exhimbited."

About the scheduled retirement of Detective Martin Quinn in June:

"I don't want him to go. These older, cooler heads who have been around know the city ... I have to figure out what makes him happy."

Matthews also announced the promotion of two officers lat week. Sgt. Rita Shesko has been promoted to acting lieutenant and Cpl. Jonathan Regan has been elevated to acting sergeant. Both will retain their "acting" status until they pass the promotion exam in the fall.

Coatesville police continue to investigate the shooting and kidnapping of 33-year-old Steven Pittman on Thursday morning.

Pittman remains in critical condition and a physician-induced coma at Lancaster General Hospital, Police Chief William Matthews said Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information should call the department at 610-384-2300.

The city swore-in three more new officers at Monday's council meeting. Each officer was added using the provisional hiring program implemented earlier this year. Matthews credited that process for reducing the time it took the department to recruit and interview the new officers.

The police still have a few vacancies. Those spots will be filled after the city compiles a new civil service list that will be compiled after a civil service exam is administered later this month.

Six new police officers will be sworn in at tonight's City Council meeting. Based on what Chief Matthews and other city officials said two weeks ago, the department is ahead of schedule.

Check out the complete agenda here.

UPDATE: Only four of the six police recruits were sworn in at Monday night's council meeting. Matthews said the other two individuals listed on the agenda, and possibly one more, likely will take the oath in March.

Coatesville Police Chief William Matthews’ announced last week the department will implement stop-and-frisk procedures in the city's high-crime areas.

Reporter Jennifer Miller wrote on Tuesday:

Police officers can legally pat down a person if officers reasonably believe a person is involved in a criminal activity at the moment, if the officers believe their safety is in danger and if the officers believe a person has a weapon, according to Chester County District Attorney Joseph Carroll.

Matthews said Thursday some residents may be concerned with the department’s new approach. But he stressed officers will frisk in a proper fashion consistent with their rights.

“I certainly want them to know we’re going to be very careful,” Matthews said. “We’re also going to take into consideration civil rights. We recognize their trust in us is at risk every time we use this technique, and we will use it appropriately.”

Do you agree with this new tactic to fight crime?