Effort To Stop Boom Parties Hits Temporary Snag In Cinnaminson

CINNAMINSON, NJ — Efforts by Cinnaminson residents to control the boom parties in Philadelphia ran into a temporary roadblock, Cinnaminson's police chief said.

Last week, on behalf of the Philadelphia Police Department, Cinnaminson Police Chief Richard Calabrese asked residents to call the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-TIPS or 215-686-3150 when they could provide police with confirmed locations of boom parties within the city's limits.

Calabrese, again on behalf of the Philadelphia Police Department, said the Pennsylvania-based law enforcement team would investigate the information provided during these calls.

Calabrese also said the Philadelphia Police Department indicated to him that boom partygoers could potentially have their vehicles confiscated, be charged, be issued citations and/or be arrested.

However, comments from Calabrese since he provided that information on behalf of the Philadelphia Police Department, indicate some Cinnaminson residents who called the Philadelphia Police Department were stonewalled.

"Since then, I have been closely monitoring and found that the statement that was released by the Philadelphia Police is not being done," according to Calabrese. "Residents are calling the phone numbers as instructed and are told to call a different number for service."

He also explained what happened when he called one of the two numbers that the Philadelphia Police Department had previously provided.

"As soon as I told him who I was and [why] I was calling, I could hear him huffing in the background like I was bothering him," Calabrese said. "He then tells me how there must be a miscommunication and that some of the officers working the Operations Room Desk don’t know what they are supposed to do."

A few emails and phone calls between the Cinnaminson and Philadelphia police departments and a few Philadelphia-area lawmakers took place after that call, according to Calabrese.

"I ... spoke to both the 15th District Captain and the police inspector who oversees that area," Calabrese said. "They both ensured me that the miscommunication from their staff will be dealt with immediately."

The 15th District Captain and area police inspector also apologized for how the Cinnaminson residents' phone calls were handled, according to Calabrese.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were no new complaints regarding the treatment of Cinnaminson residents' phone calls posted to the Cinnaminson Police Department's Facebook page since Calabrese, the 15th District Captain and the police inspector who serves that area had their conversation.

Calabrese asked Cinnaminson residents to continue calling the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-TIPS or 215-686-3150 when they can provide confirmed locations of boom parties within the city's limits. He also asked that the same information be provided to the Cinnaminson Police Department at 856-829-6666.

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