PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — When the new school year begins, Philadelphia’s Office of School Safety will have a refurbished garage for its patrol fleet, but school leaders said it’s more than just a building.
Philadelphia School District superintendent Tony Watlington, Philadelphia police, and union leaders cut the ribbon Tuesday on the newly-renovated garage on Schuylkill Avenue in the city’s Devil’s Pocket section.
The red-brick building houses 20 patrol vehicles for school safety officers. Officials said the $150,000 in upgrades include a new electrical system, better lighting, repaired bathrooms, a lounge, and upgraded meeting spaces.
John Mulligan, the district’s Deputy Chief Safety Executive, explained that before the upgrades, they had less-than-ideal conditions.
“They never complained about the conditions that were here when they arrived – a little bit of a leaky roof, a light might have blown out,” said Mulligan.
Donald Anticoli, secretary/treasurer of CASA 502, the union representing school safety supervisors, said the improvements provide officers with a more comfortable place to begin and end their day.
“You come off the street in the middle of a problem, it’s nice to have a place you can de-stress, cool down, and do your work in a professional setting.”
