Valuable aid to the community or a tragic incident waiting to happen? That’s the question being asked about Philadelphia’s first armed security guard hired by residents in the Northwood section of Northeast Philadelphia.
Harry Mearing works seven nights a week, patrolling the neighborhood in a marked car while carrying a gun. Mearing pays close attention to the homes of Northwood residents who pay him $40 a month. Anyone in the community who wants to pay for his services can stop him to sign up.
Members of the Northwood Civic Association believe Mearing will help reduce non-violent crime that Philadelphia Police are normally slow to respond to.
“He knows not to interact with any situation,” said Joe Krause. “He observes and he documents.”
Not everyone supports what Mearing does however.
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“I called the commissioner,” said Philadelphia Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez. “I think this is a bad precedent to set in the city of Philadelphia.”
Sanchez believes an armed guard is asking for trouble and has the potential to cause a Trayvon Martin-type incident.
“They can’t have somebody out there with a gun,” said Sanchez.
“During the community meeting that was a big concern that we may have another Zimmerman situation,” said resident Edward Martin. “But I don’t think that’s going to be the case.”
Police say hiring a Rent-a-Cop, a growing trend in urban areas, is completely legal.
“We knew about the issue and we researched it,” said Philadelphia Police Lieutenant Ray Evers. “They’re legally allowed to do it so we can’t say no.”
“As long as we keep getting contributors that pick up the service we’ll be able to hire more officers and expand the service throughout the city of Philadelphia,” said Mearing.
Mearing has been on patrol in Northwood for about a month. He tells NBC10 his gun is only for self-defense. While police say Mearing has the right to restrain people, they also expect him to do what anyone should do if they see a crime in progress: call 911.
