As Murder Rate Skyrockets in Chester, Officials Promise Crime Crackdown
By David Madden
MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) -- Law enforcement officials plan a major surge in the city of Chester as a way to combat the rising tide of gun-related violence in the city.
Representatives of the FBI, state police, ATF, and even Septa cops gathered with Delaware County DA Jack Whelan to announce the start of "Operation City Surge" in Chester, where homicides are about double from what they were at this time last year.
Chester's murder rate, proportionate to population, now exceeds that of Philadelphia.
"Gun violence in the city of Chester has now reached epidemic proportions. So it's now time to address illegal guns," Whelan (at lectern in photo) said.
He said residents should look for double the number of cops on the street, although no one will go into specific numbers nor say how long this program will continue.
But one thing is clear: they're looking for residents to get involved as well. And to help that along, Chester mayor John Linder says, they're also working on quality-of-life issues in town.
"We're not gonna stop, and we're gonna continue this until we get Chester as a shining star for the community, for the county, and for the nation at large," Linder (standing directly behind DA Whelan in photo) said.