WILLIAMSPORT -- It appears the Williamsport Police Department will be getting backup from other departments in Lycoming County.
In light of all the recent violent crime, the Lycoming County district attorney announced Wednesday that officers from several departments in the county have agreed to use their downtime to patrol in the city.
Williamsport police officers stopped to talk with Kellie Wyland and her neighbors on Anthony Street.
"I want to see them when there ain’t no crime. I want to see them all the time," Wyland said.
There was a deadly shooting on Anthony Street earlier this week. So far this year there have been 3 deadly shootings in Williamsport.
"I was raised here. My son was raised on this street and it's just getting too close to home and we really need to do something,” said Wyland.
Officers showed a united front at a news conference in the city.
District Attorney Eric Lindhart has called for backup from all 12 of the police departments in Lycoming County and state police.
"For the last three weeks local law enforcement has joined forces to conduct city wide police crackdowns," Lindhardt said.
The multi-agency saturation patrol paid through the district attorney's office will pull from other departments, so officers like Old Lycoming Township Police Chief William Solomon, who don't usually work in the city, will work over time patrolling frequently in Williamsport.
"The issue is crime, crime in general. The shootings, the drug dealing, the domestic assaults, whatever it is we need to work together as a team,” Solomon said.
There are already officers patrolling in the city but police say at some points there will be at least be 12 extra officers out at one time helping to prevent crime.
"We're out there stopping people for stop sign violations, no turn signals, not having their headlights on. Things that open the door up to let us in to find out what's going on with that person."
"It's going to make me feel safer as a mother. It's going to make me feel safer for my child. It's just going to make me feel safer all around,” Wyland said.
The Lycoming County DA's office tells Newswatch 16 it will pay for the extra patrols with some help from the state. The DA's office will also help pay for foot patrols in city parks and downtown Williamsport using drug forfeiture money.