Police arrest 2nd suspect in shooting

Philadelphia Police arrested a second suspect yesterday in last week's shooting of College senior Patrick Leroy, according to Chief of Police Operations Maureen Rush. The District Attorney's office is expected to press charges against the suspect today for his alleged involvement in the incident, Rush said. She added that the suspect's name will not be released until he is formally charged with the crime. University Police and officers of Philadelphia Police's Southwest Detectives Bureau continue their search for the remaining at-large suspect in Leroy's shooting, Rush said. In the wake of a rash of armed robberies near campus and last Wednesday's incident, administrators have begun to implement initiatives to improve security and safety on campus. Public Safety Managing Director Thomas Seamon said University Police will increase the maximum number of budgeted officers on the force from 88 to 98, and accelerate the hiring of new officers to fill the nine currently vacant slots. Altogether the police will hire 19 new officers to fill the vacant and newly created positions. The 10 new officers will cost $400,000 over the next year, Seamon said, adding that the allowance will increase each year as the officers receive more pay and benefits. He added that the 19 new officers will all be hired within the next two or three months and that many will begin immediately. Officers who have not completed the state-mandated training program will have to finish the five-month course before working in the department. The guards will carry radios connecting them to University Police headquarters, Seamon said. The security guards will remain in specific areas and adjust their positions when University Police officers leave their assigned posts to respond to incidents, Seamon said. Though the deal with Spectaguard is still under negotiations, Seamon projected that the extra guards would cost an additional $400,000. Beyond the initiatives involving extra guards and officers, all buildings owned by University City Associates -- the University's real estate subsidy -- will serve as "safe houses" for students who need to call Penn Escort. According to Executive Vice President John Fry, the University has told UCA's front desk employees to allow students to wait for Penn Escort inside the buildings. Fry added that additional short-term solutions to student complaints about Penn Escort will be announced this week. The University has also moved to address concerns that the sale of alcohol at local stores could contribute to increased crime near campus, Fry said. The University has sent a letter to a senior vice president of WaWa Food Mart, asking that the company stop selling liquor at its store at 38th and Spruce streets. And University officials will meet today with owners of Billybob's at 40th and Spruce streets to discuss safety and alcohol-related issues, Fry said. Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Andrea Ahles contributed to this report.