Pedro Rosario has been appointed as the new deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, becoming the first Latino to hold the position and lead the overall security plan in the Kensington neighborhood.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel made the announcement, calling it a historic appointment for the city’s police department, during a swearing-in ceremony at District 24 headquarters on 3901 Whitaker Avenue.
Parker highlighted Rosario’s unparalleled qualifications and decades of experience, making him the best candidate for the role. Rosario will oversee the city’s public safety initiatives in Kensington, aiming to address the longstanding drug and crime crisis in the neighborhood.
With 29 years of service, Bethel praised Rosario as a dedicated official with the courage, tenacity, and empathy needed to focus on restoring hope and dignity.
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Rosario, expressing gratitude and honor for undertaking this noble struggle, previously served as captain of the East Detective Division covering Kensington and commander of District 24, an area heavily affected by drug activity.
During his swearing-in, Rosario acknowledged the immense responsibility of maintaining the reputation of uniformed men and women.
En la swearing-in ceremony, Councilwoman Quetcy Lozada attended, whose seventh district covers Kensington; Representative Danilo Burgos, among other local, state, and federal leaders.
Parker and her focus on Kensington
When Parker took office in early January, she shared her 100-day action plan, which also emphasized making Philadelphia a safer city, including improvements in Kensington.
At that time, Parker declared a public safety emergency in Philadelphia and directed Bethel and the Office of the Managing Director to develop comprehensive plans addressing public safety throughout the city.
Kensington is the only neighborhood mentioned in Parker’s 100-day plan, which also outlines the goal of permanently ending outdoor drug sales in the city.
More than 1,400 overdose deaths
In 2022, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health recorded 1,413 deaths from unintentional overdoses, marking an 11% increase compared to the previous peak of 1,276 in 2021.
The data released by the department specified that over 80% of the overdose deaths recorded in 2022 involved opioids, predominantly fentanyl. Stimulants, such as cocaine, were also detected in over 70% of cases.
The department also detailed that the number of African American and Hispanic individuals dying from drug overdoses continues to rise. From 2018 to 2022, it increased by 87% and 43%, respectively.
Noticias Newswire
