Local anti-violence organization to help promote safety on SEPTA trains

Along with SEPTA police, there’s now a new set of eyes looking out for trouble on the trains.

For the month of December, paid peace patrollers with the anti-violence organization Philly Truce, are riding trains during the evening rush, looking out for anything out of the ordinary. They’re focused on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines.

The group tells NBC10 their looking out for riders smoking, evading fares and fighting. The peace patrollers are trained in de-escalation.

“If they are doing anything, we just let them know what’s going on, basically give them the heads up, that we try and come before the actual SEPTA police come or police come,” said John Davis of the peace patrol.

So far, organizers said peace patrollers have positively engaged with more than 30,000 riders in the last 16 days. 

In a statement, SEPTA‘s police chief tells NBC10 in part:

“SEPTA Transit Police have made significant strides in bringing down incidents of serious crime, going on to say, By partnering with an organization such as Philly Truce, we are working to promote safety.”

“To everybody who has the authority to do something about it, this is forever in our minds. Think about it, we’re about to have an influx on tourists like we haven’t seen since 1976 right. Why not have peace patrol out here, up and down these trains?,” said Philly Truce Co-Founder Mazzie Casher.

SEPTA officials shared that they have reduced incidents of serious crime, and welcomes the help of Philly Truce to prompt safety.