A key goal of the City Avenue Special Services District is improving the public safety of the area. Our public safety program has two major components: facilitating cooperation among public and private security forces, and the operation of a Community Service Representative (CSR) program.
The District works with leaders from the Lower Merion Township Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department and private property managers and security forces on sharing information about crime statistics and addressing public safety concerns.
The District employees eight Community Service Representatives (CSRs) who patrol the District on bicycles from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. The CSRs are not armed, but communicate with the Lower Merion and Philadelphia police departments with two-way radios and are trained to assist people in the District. The CSR program is lead by Peter Herzog, who joined the District after 32 years on the Lower Merion Police Department.
Since the first CSRs started their patrols in September of 1999, they have assisted over 3,000 people with directions, car problems and a range of other issues and crime has been reduced by 32% in the City Avenue Special Services District. The CSRs have also worked with the Lower Merion and Philadelphia police departments in identifying a number of criminal activities and suspects. The CSRs, who are trained in first aid, CPR and a range of other skills provide three key functions
 Provide a visible uniformed presence in the District.
Work with the Lower Merion and Philadelphia police departments, property managers and private security patrols to identify and communicate suspicious activities.
Assist people with directions, motor vehicle problems and other needs.
When you see a CSR and need help or have a question about the City Avenue Special Services District stop them, they are here to help you.
The latest development in the Safety Department is the introduction of the Emergency Notification Program. The Emergency Notification Program allows the District to communicate brief emergency messages to all commercial entities in the District at the same time. Information on crimes and/or dangerous conditions in the District can be immediately disseminated.
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