Dessoye Stepping Down As Wilkes-Barre Police Chief

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WILKES-BARRE, PA — So much for listening to his older brother about career choices.

City Police Chief Gerard Dessoye announced his long-rumored retirement Wednesday after 33 years on the force, rising to lead the more than 90-member department from patrolman.

Dessoye, 57, will leave his $91,305-a-year position later this month to take over as executive director of campus safety and security at King’s College, where he graduated in 1979 with a degree in criminal justice.

A decorated officer — Dessoye has been shot, and himself shot and killed a man — the outgoing chief acknowledged his brother Michael, chief detective with the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, discouraged him from following in his footsteps as a policeman.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news-news/50249743/Dessoye-stepping-down-as-chief#.VAiPH_RDsxI

Council Members: Sherman Hills Owners Have No Plans To Increase Security

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The company managing the Sherman Hills apartment complex has no plans now to put up a guard house or around-the-clock armed security, said city council members this week.

Council members Bill Barrett and George Brown met in July with John VanMetre, director of property management at The Aspen Companies, a sister company of Treetop Development, the facility’s owners. Barrett and Brown are members of a group organized by Congressman Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, looking at living conditions at the apartments.

“We have recommendations, not just cameras and fencing. I think we do need a guard system and to have people there who are monitors. I feel that’s something that’s necessary,” Brown said.

“The bottom line is I feel there’s a need to more closely monitor who’s there,” Barrett said. “There are problems still occurring, still continuing. I think they need to seriously consider having an armed security presence there to make it a safer place. That should be the objective, to make a safe living place for residents of the development. The only way you can do that is to make sure people who aren’t supposed to be there are not there.”

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/council-members-sherman-hills-owners-have-no-plans-to-increase-security-1.1732933

UPDATE: Wilkes-Barre Police Investigate Reported Stabbing At Sherman Hills

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WILKES-BARRE, PA — Police are investigating a reported stabbing Friday night at the crime-plagued Sherman Hills apartment complex in Wilkes-Barre that left the victim in critical condition.

A 911 supervisor said the stabbing was reported at 7:30 this evening at Building 320 on North Empire Court. One male was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, the supervisor said.

According to a release from Wilkes-Barre police, the victim had a severe laceration to his neck and was transported to a local medical facility.

A representative from Sherman Hills ordered members of the news media off the private property shortly after their arrival.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news-news/50070675/UPDATE:-Wilkes-Barre-police-investigate-reported-stabbing-at-Sherman-Hills#.U9z_GfRDsxI

Wilkes-Barre Police Chief: Sherman Hills Cameras Not Working

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WILKES-BARRE, PA — Surveillance cameras in Sherman Hills did not record Tuesday’s shooting at the troubled apartment complex when two men were seriously injured, city police Chief Gerard Dessoye said Thursday.

Dessoye said the camera system, he believed, was “not fixed” as pledged by the complex’s former owner, Sherman Hills Realty Inc.

“(Cameras) couldn’t provide any details about the shooting,” Dessoye said, noting he has not seen any security enhancements at the apartment complex besides the installation of a chain link fence.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, stated in a news release that Treetop Development, which purchased the apartment complex from Sherman Hills Realty earlier this year, “repaired all cameras.”

Read more: http://timesleader.com/news/local-news-news/1536916/Dessoye:-Few-security-improvements-at-Sherman-Hills

Gun Violence Shoots Up 21 Percent In Wilkes-Barre

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WILKES-BARRE — State police statistics suggest it is safer to reside anywhere else in Luzerne County than in Wilkes-Barre.

The city experienced a 21-percent jump in serious crime from January through the end of June, compared to the same time in 2012, according to the state police Uniform Crime Report.

Violence involving guns is the most troubling, accounting for the deaths of six people and injuries to others in multiple shootings and assaults, statistics say.

Three people were killed by gunfire in 2012, although one of those deaths was ruled a murder/suicide.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/668804/Gun-violence-shoots-up-21-percent-in-Wilkes-Barre

Man Shot To Death In Wilkes-Barre; 2 Detained

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WILKES-BARRE — City police are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred late Tuesday afternoon at 32 N. Sherman St., across from the Heights-Murray Elementary School.

One man with an apparent gunshot wound to the head was removed from the house by city paramedics just before 4 p.m. He appeared unresponsive and was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, where he was pronounced dead at about 5 p.m.  Police did not release the victim’s identity.

Two men were handcuffed and detained in the driveway.  They sat on the ground before they were placed in two cruisers and taken to police headquarters for questioning.  Their names also were not released.

Police Chief Gerard Dessoye said he believed the community was not in danger.  “We feel we have all the participants involved,” he said.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/628705/Man-shot-to-death-in-Wilkes-Barre;-2-detained

Wilkes-Barre Mayor ‘Disgusted’ By Actions, Suspends Towing Contract

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WILKES-BARRE, PA — As little as Mayor Tom Leighton said about the city’s reasons for suspending LAG Towing’s contract, he said less about other investigations that might involve the tower.

Leighton hastily called a press conference Friday afternoon to announce the suspension following the filing of theft charges against Leo A. Glodzik III, LAG’s owner.

“I am disgusted and disappointed by the actions of one of our city contractors,” Leighton said.  “I will not speculate on his guilt, but actions of this type will not be condoned or excused.  And we demonstrated today they will not be tolerated.”

He would not disclose the full details for the city’s action as it prepares for an arbitration proceeding and the appointment of an independent arbiter to affirm the validity of the suspension within 60 days — in compliance with the terms of the contract.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/561566/Leighton-disgusted-by-actions-suspends-contract