Delco criminals will be focus of new TV show
Published: Thursday, February 25, 2010
By ROSE QUINN
rquinn@delcotimes.com
CLIFTON HEIGHTS — If its model in Calhoun County, Ala., is any indication, “Delaware County’s Most Wanted” television show is destined to be a northern hit.
“We’re the No. 1 show on the station here in Jacksonville,” Calhoun County Chief Deputy Sheriff Matthew Wade said Wednesday of the program that started six years ago and had captured 1,706 fugitives as of this week.
That’s the high hope of all those behind Delco’s show — coordinated through Delaware County Sheriff Joseph McGinn’s office — once it hits Comcast Channel 190 Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m., sometime in April.
McGinn, addressing members of the Chester Heights Business Association and showing no sign of camera shyness Wednesday night, spent equal time plugging the show and soliciting potential advertisers.
“The plan is for the program to be independent of taxpayers’ dollars,” McGinn told the crowd of more than 50 people gathered at the Bungalow Inn.
Each 30-minute show costs about $1,200 to produce, according to Sgt. Deborah O’Berg, fondly known as “Deputy Deb” and who has an active role in the production. The programs will be taped on location in Media.
To date, they’ve screened the program to other groups for content feedback, but Wednesday was the first time they were courting potential advertisers to fund it, she said.
“We want to put out a product that the people will want to watch,” O’Berg said, noting that fugitives will range from accused killers to deadbeat dads, and moms.
“We are hopeful that by bringing this information directly to our neighbors, we can get these people off our streets and behind bars, where they belong,” McGinn said.
Each week, they will focus on 18 from among the county’s list of about 6,000 fugitives.
Among them: Angel Sladek of Ridley, who is wanted on a bench warrant; Benjamin L. Dendy of Philadelphia, wanted for a probation violation stemming from indecent assault offenses; Walter Kirkner of Lower Chichester, wanted for payment of $101,265 in child support; and John Washington of Philadelphia, wanted for failure to report to serve his sentence on robbery and conspiracy offenses.
“There are some who say why even show deadbeat dads? Because they are costing us a lot of dough,” McGinn told the group, referring to support programs funded by tax dollars.
Introduced to the welcoming crowd by CHBA member Bill Wassell and Clifton Heights Mayor Joseph T. Kelly Jr., McGinn made quick mention of the recent controversy involving a photography business he founded and now run by his daughter who has obtained no-bid county work.
“We broke all those stories in the beginning of his week just to get attention,” McGinn quipped, then immediately invited anyone with questions to talk to him after the presentation.
“I don’t have anything to hide,” McGinn said.
McGinn said he got the idea for the cable program while attending a sheriffs’ conference in Florida. At first he wanted to slip out of the room, but a few minutes into the presentation by members of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, he said he was hooked.
“I really think this will add some value to what we do, in a lot of ways,” McGinn said.
In his seventh year as sheriff, he said people might be surprised to know the number of those don’t know his role, or the overall role of county government.
“We want this to be a service to the community,” he said. Not only will they be putting the faces out there of the people they want to bring in, there will be other segments on security and safety tips.
Joining McGinn as volunteer co-host will be KYW Radio personality Kevin Scholla, also the voice of Villanova basketball.
A preview was shown of the first installment, which appropriately opens to the lyrics of “One way or another ... we’re gonna get ya’, get ya’, get ya’, get ya’.”
Guest on the debut show is Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green. McGinn said he would like to invite police chiefs from around the county to appear on the show, beginning with Clifton Heights Chief Walt Senkow, who was in the audience Wednesday night.
In a telephone interview, Wade said he remembers meeting McGinn at the conference. He described McGinn as “a go-getter.”
He said others in his area — Calhoun County was once home to baseball legend Ty Cobb — have tried to copy its successful format. Wade even offered to appear on Delco’s version of the show, if he was ever invited.
He said the foundation of the unscripted show is to be open with viewers.
“We think accountability to the public, being transparent, is very important,” he said. “People look at shows like “CSI” and think that’s the way it is ... but law enforcement is really about having the trust of your community.”
As for any advice to McGinn, Wade said, “It will be his greatest tool. It will be his time to get out to the public what he’s been doing and what he needs from them.”
O’Berg said Delco is looking to work with other cable carriers, including Verizon and RCN, to pick up the program as well.
Quote:
Linear Mode
