The Harrisburg Bureau of Police, since 2017, has allowed owners of liquor establishments on 2nd Street downtown to pay the city to have off-duty police officers to patrol the areas just outside of their establishment.  This has, along with other initiatives taken by Harrisburg police, rendered the 2nd Street entertainment corridor in downtown Harrisburg reasonably safe; many people, including myself have frequented establishments in this corridor, sometimes alone, into the late night without becoming victims violent crime.

However, this progress in keeping the violence in check is in jeopardy due to the Harrisburg Bureau of Police's presence to do away with this valuable service solely due to one officer's misconduct on St. Patrick's Day Weekend.  Though the city still plans to respond to calls to the 2nd Street entertainment corridor, it is concerning for the city to dismantle a vital component of the mitigation strategy which has kept the corridor from being a war zone.

With several establishments along 2nd Street recently changing ownership, and a promise from the owner to make downtown Harrisburg a vibrant entertainment district, I am calling upon the Harrisburg Bureau of Police to reinstate the patrols that were funded by the business owners, or a comparable company police presence (I do not care who funds the presence).  This police presence is one component of a strategy to increasing foot traffic in the entertainment district not just by Harrisburg city residents, but also residents of the West Shore, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, East Shore, Colonial Park, and other suburban areas in the vicinity of Harrisburg.  Downtown Harrisburg should be a safe, vibrant place during all hours of the day and night, and closing down/shortening hours of nighttime establishments and stigmatizing being in Downtown Harrisburg after dark will achieve the opposite.