By Gabbie Burton
Contributing Writer

Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe’s second stop on his county-wide listening tour was held at Coatesville City Hall on Aug. 1, an event that gave community members and the DA a chance to have a dialogue with each other about concerns facing the community.

The 90-minute-long conversation was attended by two dozen teachers, faith leaders, parents and other community leaders, including Chief of Detectives David Sassa. The DA hosted his first listening tour event in West Chester on July 10.

“What I want to do is listen and talk with you all,” de Barrena-Sarobe said. “I’m going to walk away with your perspective so that I can go back to my legal community and go, ‘This is what they’re worried about. How can we do better?’”

In his opening remarks, de Barrena-Sarobe shared that he has been the county’s district attorney since being sworn in on Jan. 1, 2024, and is trying to connect and learn more about what unique problems are facing the different communities that make up Chester County. He also set parameters for the discussion including that he could not disclose information or answer any questions about ongoing cases.

Prior to his position as DA, de Barrena-Sarobe served as an assistant DA in Chester County and was Deputy in the Drug and Organized Crime Unit before being a federal prosecutor in Delaware. While in this position, he investigated and prosecuted fraud, high-level drug trafficking, illegal gun possession and gun trafficking, kidnapping, and other violent offenses committed by criminal defendants.

He shared that the two most important things he has focused on his career has been opioids and gun violence, specifically against young Black men.

“I’m here because of that latter point upsets me daily,” he said. “The reality is that we need the communities help to solve crimes.”

Community members resonated with de Barrena-Sarobe’s chief focus of the event and raised an array of concerns centered on keeping children out of danger in Coatesville, specifically pertaining to the influence of drugs and gun violence in the city and how to best to mitigate and ultimately stop those influences.

Gun buy-back programs and traffic stop training were some of the initiatives discussed to address these issues. The DA mentioned a previous successful Youth and Law Enforcement Symposium in April that offered Chester County youth to meet with local law enforcement to discuss the criminal justice system and, “bridge relationships between the community and police.”

Other possible solutions and questions brought up by community members were not under the DA’s purview such as issues regarding schools, economic opportunities and home life but he encouraged the attendees to continue discussions and build on what was discussed that night. He shared that he would support their goals and plans on tackling the issues discussed as best as he can moving forward.

Community members Linda Lavender Norris and Lila Singleton seemed to react positively to the event saying they felt it was, “constructive,” and were grateful for the opportunity to voice their opinion. They also shared that they wish other entities from the county government would similarly come out and meet communities where they are at.

de Barrena-Sarobe said that he would be willing to come back to Coatesville in “one to two months” to follow up with community members on the ideas and issues brought up during the Aug. 1 meeting. The DA’s office is planning to hold more listening tours around the county in order to connect with other communities about the specific issues facing them.

While the listening tour did not lead to any concrete plans or changes, the DA’s office goal in meeting and hearing from the community was met.

“Government works best when it merges with the community and understands what’s happening,” de Barrena-Sarobe said.