Top Democrats in Philadelphia Mayoral Race Call for More Policing

PHILADELPHIA -- The five Democrats who are best positioned to secure their party's nomination as Philadelphia mayor each have a common message to the voters: the city needs a larger role for police.

The top Democratic candidates, in response to historically high levels of crime, have called for more patrol officers, increased detective ranks, and faster 911 responses. They are also debating whether police investigative stop-and-frisk, often called "stop-and -frisk", is a good tool for removing illegal guns from the streets. The top Democratic candidates have called for increased violence prevention efforts, youth employment, and other measures that do not involve law enforcement. However, the role of the police has dominated this debate.