x
Breaking News
More () »

Wilkes-Barre Mayor: ‘I Can’t Assure Anybody That They Won’t Be The Next Victim’

WILKES-BARRE — At City Hall in Wilkes-Barre, eight officers were sworn in to their new ranks, all promoted after serving for a decade or longer. Sergeant ...
willow street shoot

WILKES-BARRE -- At City Hall in Wilkes-Barre, eight officers were sworn in to their new ranks, all promoted after serving for a decade or longer.

Sergeant Brett Smith was promoted after serving as a patrolman for 21 years.

"Hopefully it will increase the security of the city,” Smith said, adding, “It's definitely needed at this time, and we'll do our best to keep everybody safe."

It's been less than a week since Donald Bachman was shot to death outside his home on Willow Street. Bachman was an advocate for neighborhood safety, often reporting crimes.  Police, though, aren't saying whether or not his crime-watching led to his murder.

“We're following leads. We're not going to make a statement on motive at this time until we have all our facts,” Chief Robert Hughes said.

But five days after Bachman’s death and with a killer still on the loose, some folks in Wilkes-Barre want to know how an innocent man, known to help police, was killed.

"It's way too many murders going on, you know?” said Kurt Swan of Wilkes-Barre.

Newswatch 16 asked Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton how can people be assured that they're not going to be the next victim.

“Nobody can be assured. I can't assure anybody that they won't be the next victim. Anybody can be a victim,” Leighton said, adding the police department's new promotions add experience to public safety efforts.

But folks in downtown Wilkes-Barre say they just want to be able to feel safe.

Before You Leave, Check This Out