The Lower Providence Police Department Has Released It's Annual Report For 2021

LOWER PROVIDENCE, PA — The case of a man charged with fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend and leaving her body on a portion of the Schuylkill River Trail in Lower Providence was one of the larger criminal cases that local detectives investigated during 2021.

In total, the Lower Providence Police Department worked on 577 criminal cases last year, according to the department's 2021 Annual Report, which has now been released publicly.

The report serves as a summary of various police activities that took place during the prior calendar year, which includes crime statistics, officer commendations, officer retirements, new hires, departmental training and more.

"I am incredibly proud of what our police department has accomplished this last year," Chief Michael Jackson wrote in an introductory message in the report. "While we all faced many unprecedented challenges still stemming from COVID-19, we consistently addressed them professionally and maintained our continued high level of service to the public."

Jackson said he hopes the report not only provides township residents with a look into police activities and achievements but also serves as a better understanding of the "many services our police department provides to our community."

One of the highlights of the report is the 577 criminal cases that department investigated during 2021, which ranged from low-level crimes to major felonies, such as the case of Freddy Pando, who is awaiting trial on murder charges in connection with the killing of his ex-girlfriend.

Pando is charged in the stabbing death of 23-year-old Karina Torres last September. He is accused of killing Torres and leaving her body at the Betzwood Trailhead of the Schuylkill River Trail.

In November, a judge determined that there was enough evidence in the case to hold Pando over for trial. Records show that the trial has been scheduled to begin on March 21.

The annual police department report also shows that Lower Providence successfully passed its fifth reaccreditation assessment last October, with the department now being an accredited police agency since 2006.

The department says that accredited status has been awarded to less than 10 percent of the 1,200 law enforcement agencies in the entire commonwealth.

Other highlights of the report are the fact that the department received a total of zero formal citizen complaints against any department member for all of 2021, and also that the department received 16 letters of commendation, 12 unit citations, seven commendations of bravery, two life-saving commendations and one commendation of merit.

Check out the entire report to see additional highlights.