Upper Darby has seen a drop in serious crime so far in 2024, reports Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timony Bernhardt.

Violent crime is down in the first six months, with shootings down 35 percent, homicides by 83 percent, robberies by 35 percent and sex crimes by 34 percent, writes Pete Bannon for the Daily Times.

Bernhardt presented the statistics during an Upper Darby Council public safety presentation this week that included plans to hire five additional police officers.

Use of criminal intelligence procedures and officers using data-driven policies are helping reduce crime, he said.

Bernhardt said he and other public officials are also working with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and her administration on ways to reduce crime.

“It’s important to work with our communities around us,” Bernhardt said.

Fighting crime requires a holistic approach, utilizing different partners, he said.

“It’s not just hire five officers, send them to the academy, put them into uniform and send them out on the street to make arrests. It’s a bigger picture,” Bernhardt said.

Upper Darby’s specialized units include criminal intelligence, narcotics, mountain bike unit, highway patrol and detectives, plus the township is starting a drone unit.  

Read more details about how the Upper Darby Police Department is tackling crime in the Daily Times.