(The Center Square) – Recruiting new police officers and supporting those already on the job in Pennsylvania remains a constant struggle.
That’s why the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency backs local agencies as a way to boost hiring and retention.
The latest recipient, Lock Haven City, accepted $14,000 in assistance from the commission in a news conference hosted Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris to promote the administration’s law enforcement efforts.
The sum awarded to Lock Haven will go toward hiring two new officers. It’s a portion of $3 million in grants awarded by the commission that went toward recruiting and training for 692 municipal law enforcement positions.
This year’s state funding also includes provisions for 800 new state troopers. The agency hopes to fill 1,500 vacancies in two years, though overall interest in law enforcement careers has been on the decline.
In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide police protests, agencies were already suffering from what the International Association of Chiefs of Police called a “recruiting crisis.” The organization attributes the crisis to demographic and social factors, like public perception and a generational shift in values and work expectations.
In Pennsylvania, the legislature has responded to the need by removing requirements that are barriers to entry for some. This includes lowering the fitness standards for municipal officers and removing the college credit requirement for state police.
The move led to a drastic jump in new applicants, which proponents say improves representation on the force.
“By eliminating the college requirement, we’ve opened the door to a more diverse and talented pool of candidates, ensuring our force reflects the community we serve,” Paris said.
Municipalities like Lock Haven are also able to apply for grant funding to reimburse officers for Act 120 certification.
“This funding has opened doors for applicants who previously faced barriers, allowing us to build a fully staffed department and better serve the residents of Lock Haven,” said Lock Haven Police Chief Matthew Rickard.
In addition to staffing, commission funding often goes toward updating vehicles, weapons and technological resources used by police forces. Agencies can tap into $5.8 million in funding for system upgrades, which will enable them to come into compliance with reporting requirements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Incident-Based Reporting System.
The highest police price tag is a $400 million police training facility for which construction began in Hershey last year. The facility will include dormitories, classrooms, gymnasiums, a training tank for water-related emergencies and an indoor and outdoor tactical village.
The Hershey facility and projects like it around the country have become known as “cop cities.” The concept gained national attention after a similar project in Atlanta drew mass protests from the community and led to the shooting and death of environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Terán by police.
In addition to the environmental impact, critics compare the project to Marine training facilities in Camp LeJeune and the Israeli Defense Force’s Urban Warfare Training Center, often referred to as “Mini Gaza.” It’s common practice for American police officers, including the Pennsylvania State Police, to train with Israeli military forces.
The project has come under significant scrutiny from progressives who say the move signals increased militarization and prioritization of the police force at a time when it should be reined in in favor of community-based social programs.
To that end, the commission, under the lieutenant governor’s leadership, has emphasized violence prevention.
“Police officers will be the first ones to tell you that we can’t police our way out of this problem,” Davis said.
Investments include doubled funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund, re-establishment of the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and $11.5 million toward the Building Opportunity through Out of School Time program to reduce community violence.
“Across Pennsylvania, we’re seeing real progress from the investments we’ve made — with many of our major cities seeing reductions in homicides and gun violence,” said Davis.
