SCRANTON, Pa. — A crime earlier this year in Scranton hit too close to home for a man who lives in the city's west side.
On Monday, he took the first step in what he hopes will be a movement to support the Scranton Police Department.
Michael Mancini is no stranger to tragedy. He started an advocacy group called The Nevaeh Project in 2020 after his son died of a fentanyl overdose.
And earlier this year, tragedy struck very close to home.
He is the man who called 911 after Scranton Police Detective Kyle Gilmartin was shot twice in the head in January.
That event inspired him to take this walk in the city's downtown.
"The city and our police department truly need our help."
Mancini says he's seen too much troubling crime in Scranton, including a teen attempting to bring a gun to Scranton High School and a brawl that turned into a deadly shooting last week.
Mancini walked to City Hall with friends to send a message of support and hoping the mayor will accept a donation of two police K-9s.
Breeder Shadow Romano is offering up two of his Cane Corsos.
"I want to keep drugs off the street, guns, keep people safe, and also keep our officers safe. Send these guys out," Romano said.
"I think that truly, K-9s are very important. Like I said, Scranton police have been helping us out since 1866. I think it's about time they could use our help," Mancini said.
Mancini also hoped his walk would show his neighbors that they can step up, too. He and some of the people with him are restarting the West Side Neighborhood Watch.
He's hoping others follow suit.
"After COVID, neighborhood watches have gone by the wayside. West Scranton doesn't even have one, the biggest part of the city, and we're receiving the majority, a large portion of the calls. We're going to be restarting the watch. I'm one person; if I can do this, can you imagine what all of us can do?"