If you’ve ever driven down Broad Street toward the northern edge of the city, you’ve passed through it. The 35th District. It’s a massive slice of North Philadelphia that feels like three different worlds stitched together. You have the quiet, leafy streets of Oak Lane, the dense rowhomes of Ogontz, and the bustling, often chaotic energy of the Olney transportation hub. Covering the 35th District Philadelphia Police operations isn't just about looking at a map; it's about understanding one of the most complex policing environments in the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Honestly, people talk about North Philly like it’s a monolith. It isn't. The 35th is a beast of a district.
It’s bounded roughly by Cheltenham Avenue to the north, Broad Street to the west (mostly), and Roosevelt Boulevard to the south. Because it’s so big, the police officers stationed at the 5960 North Broad Street headquarters are constantly jumping between suburban-style domestic calls and high-intensity urban crime scenes. It’s a lot.
The Reality of the 5960 North Broad Street Precinct
The station house itself is a landmark. Located right near the intersection of Broad and Grange, it serves as the nerve center for a population that is incredibly diverse—economically and culturally. You've got long-term homeowners who have been there for forty years sitting right next to transient student populations and immigrant communities from across the globe.
When you look at how the 35th District Philadelphia Police manage this, you have to look at the numbers. While crime rates fluctuate, the 35th has historically been one of the busier districts for "Priority 1" calls. These are the "lights and sirens" runs.
The precinct operates under the Northwest Division. It’s not just about patrol cars, though. They have dedicated Community Relations Officers (CROs) whose entire job is basically being the face of the department at neighborhood watch meetings in places like Logan or Fern Rock. You might see Officer Branford or other veterans of the district out at the local schools. They know that in a place like Olney, if the residents don’t trust the cops, nothing gets solved.
Crime happens. That’s the reality. But the 35th is also where you see some of the most intensive "town hall" style policing in the city. Captains in this district change every few years, and each one tries to put their own stamp on how to handle the "hot spots" like the intersection of 5th and Olney or the transit hubs where retail theft and loitering tend to peak.
Why the Olney Transportation Center Changes Everything
You can't talk about the 35th District Philadelphia Police without talking about the Olney Transportation Center. It is one of the busiest hubs in the SEPTA system. Thousands of people funnel through there every hour.
This creates a unique policing challenge.
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It’s a magnet. You have high foot traffic, which is great for businesses but also attracts "quality of life" issues. We’re talking about everything from unlicensed vendors to more serious transit-related crimes. The 35th District officers have to coordinate constantly with SEPTA Transit Police. It’s a jurisdictional dance. Sometimes a crime happens on the platform (SEPTA’s problem) and spills onto the sidewalk (the 35th’s problem).
If you're living in this area, you've probably noticed the "Fixed Posts." These are cruisers that sit with their lights flashing at specific intersections. It's a strategy designed to deter the "smash and grab" incidents that plagued the Broad Street corridor a few years back. Does it work? Some neighbors say it makes them feel safer; others think it’s just for show. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle.
Understanding the "PSA" System in the 35th
The Philly PD uses something called Police Service Areas, or PSAs. The 35th is split into three of them: PSA 1, PSA 2, and PSA 3.
Think of it like this:
- PSA 1 generally handles the western side, including parts of Belfield and Logan.
- PSA 2 covers the central "spine" of the district.
- PSA 3 stretches east toward the Boulevard and takes in much of Olney.
Each PSA has a Lieutenant in charge. If you have a recurring issue—like a neighbor who thinks 2 AM is the perfect time for a drum solo or a corner that’s becoming a "hangout" for the wrong reasons—these are the people you actually need to talk to. Calling 911 for a non-emergency is a waste of time in a district this busy. You want the PSA Lieutenant.
They hold monthly meetings. Usually, these are at local churches or community centers like the Fisher Park area. It’s one of the few places where you can look a ranking officer in the eye and ask, "Why did it take forty minutes for a car to show up to my block last Tuesday?"
The response is usually honest, if frustrating: "We had four shootings and a pile-up on the Boulevard." That’s the 35th in a nutshell. High demand, finite resources.
Challenges and Controversies in the North Broad Corridor
It’s not all community cookouts and successful arrests. The 35th District Philadelphia Police have faced their fair share of scrutiny. Like much of the Philadelphia Police Department, the 35th has had to grapple with staffing shortages that hit the city hard post-2020.
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When you have fewer cops on the street, response times lag.
There’s also the issue of historical tension. In neighborhoods like Ogontz and Logan, the relationship between the police and the Black and Brown communities has been strained for decades. There’s a "stop and frisk" history here that doesn't just disappear because a new Captain takes over.
But there’s a flip side. Many residents in the 35th are the ones calling for more police, not less. They want the drug sales off their corners. They want their kids to be able to walk to the Widener Memorial School without dodging dirt bikes. It’s a delicate balance of trying to provide security without over-policing the people who actually live there.
The Role of Specialized Units
Sometimes you’ll see vehicles in the 35th that don’t look like standard patrol cars. You might see the Highway Patrol (which, despite the name, works city streets) or the Narcotics Strike Force.
Because the 35th has several "corridors" that are known for narcotics distribution, these specialized units are frequently rotated in. They aren't based out of the 35th District station, but they use it as a staging ground. This often leads to a spike in arrests over a 48-hour period, followed by a return to the status quo. It’s a "whack-a-mole" strategy that many residents find exhausting, but the department insists is necessary to disrupt violent crime cycles.
How to Effectively Interact with the 35th District
If you live in the 35th, or if you're moving there, you need to be smart about how you engage with the police.
First, get the direct number for the 35th District: 215-686-3350.
Don’t use this for emergencies. Use it to follow up on a report or to ask about a towed car. If you need to report a crime that isn't happening right now—like someone broke into your shed overnight—you can often do it over the phone or by walking into the station at 5960 North Broad.
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Pro Tip: If you’re going to the station, be prepared to wait. It’s a busy house. The front desk officers are dealing with everything from lost dogs to people turning themselves in on warrants.
Victim Services and Support
One thing the 35th District Philadelphia Police actually do quite well is connecting victims to the Northwest Victim Services. If you’ve been a victim of a crime in the 35th, you don’t just have to wait for a detective to call you. You can reach out to these advocates who help with everything from filing for compensation to finding counseling.
It’s a resource that stays under the radar, but in a district with the 35th's crime stats, it’s a lifeline.
The Future of Policing in North Philly
What’s next? The city is leaning heavily into technology. You’ll notice more "blue light" cameras at major intersections in the 35th. These feed directly into the Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC).
The idea is that if a shot is fired or a car is stolen, the 35th District dispatchers can pull up a feed instantly. It’s controversial. Privacy advocates hate it. But for a business owner on North 5th Street who has been robbed twice, that camera is a godsend.
There’s also a push for more "foot beats." This is the old-school way of policing where an officer actually walks the block. You’re starting to see this more in the commercial zones of the 35th. It’s an attempt to break down the "us vs. them" mentality that develops when police only ever stay inside their SUVs with the windows rolled up.
Actionable Steps for Residents and Business Owners
If you want to stay informed or improve the safety of your immediate block in the 35th District, stop waiting for the news to tell you what’s happening.
- Attend the PDAC Meetings: The Police District Advisory Council (PDAC) is where the real talk happens. These meetings allow you to hear directly from the Captain about recent trends in the 35th. It’s also where you can complain about specific issues that 911 dispatchers might deprioritize.
- Use the Philly 311 App: For "quality of life" issues—abandoned cars, broken streetlights, illegal dumping—don’t call the 35th District. Use 311. If the police are bogged down with 311-style calls, they can't respond to the violent ones.
- Register Your Cameras: if you have a Ring or Nest cam, you can register it with the "SafeCam" program. The 35th District Philadelphia Police won't have "live" access to your camera, but they will know who to ask for footage if a crime happens on your street. This saves them hours of door-knocking and gets suspects off the street faster.
- Know Your PSA: Find out if you are in PSA 1, 2, or 3. Bookmark the contact info for that specific Lieutenant. That relationship is more valuable than any other contact you’ll have in the department.
The 35th isn't just a police district; it's a barometer for the health of North Philadelphia. It’s a place of incredible resilience and significant struggle. Whether you're a lifelong resident of West Oak Lane or a commuter passing through Olney, understanding how the gears of the 35th District turn is the first step in making the neighborhood work for everyone.