FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2009
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State Responds to Senators Call for Help

In response to a letter from two state Senators urging Gov. Ed Rendell to use state resources to assist the city of Coatesville during its state of emergency, more help is on the way.

State Senators John C. Rafferty, Jr, R-44th and Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th, wrote the governor earlier this week, expressing grave concern over the outbreak of fires set in the city and asking for his assistance.

On Thursday, Dennis J. Hoyle, director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, responded.

"I am pleased to inform you that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's Office of Victims Services will deploy members of its Direct Victims' Services Unit to the Coatesville area to assist victims of the tragic fires there.

"Within the next few days, they will be available to aid victims in acquiring compensation for medical care, counseling, and relocation. This will include emergency expedited reimbursements where appropriate."

"Government of all levels must come to Coatesville's aid at this time, and it's satisfying to see Pennsylvania responding to our request by providing professionals trained to talk to and help the victims of crime," Dinniman said.

The PCCD staff will be working closely under the lead of the Chester County Crime Victims Service program Hoyle said.

"We are working out the details of their station and duration of their deployment. I will provide further details as they are finalized," he said. "We stand ready to do what we can to relieve the suffering of these families and this community."

"Saturday's fire and the previous arsons are taking an almost unimaginable toll on the lives of the city's residents, and city government and its residents are greatly in need of all the help they can get from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," Rafferty said. 

He noted the Pennsylvania State Police arson task force has been working with law enforcement and city officials to address the issue. In addition to the state police arson task force, state police are providing additional assistance in other areas, Sen. Rafferty said.