Berks County Political Blogs

The below was from the House Judiciary Committee public hearing on law enforcement powers for Sheriffs which was House Bill 466 which was from February 21 2008.  As we all know this House Bill was one of many that never was sent to Legislation to be voted on. 

REPRESENTATIVE PICKETT: 

Mr. Chairman.  

The — the situation is different inmy county. It’s not the same as it was. And  the opportunities that we had to use this  manpower has been diminished.  I’ll put my business hat on for just a minute. In brief, I had a business that was  on one side of the Susquehanna River bridge in  a township and the borough on the other side of the Susquehanna River bridge has a police  force. And I have a great respect for that  chief of police and his staff there. They’re  good people. They do everything they can do.  But guess what? They can’t cross the bridge.  And so when I had an incident in my  business. And I was there for many years and I certainly had incidents. We had — we had a  tavern. We had a — a full hotel. We had a  restaurant. And I had incidents.  And many times I had to put on my own  sort of sheriff’s badge. I do have one my  grandfather had years ago. And I had to take  care of that situation, just because the State Police were so far away. No fault of theirs,  but they were someplace. I had an incident  right now and that chief of police and his staff cannot cross that bridge even though  it’s probably — I don’t know if there’s some  of the golfers in here, they might be able to cross that bridge with a golf ball.  So that was — that’s the reality of  what goes on in the field and why I feel we  need to use this manpower.

 Thank you

The below was from the House Judiciary Committee public hearing on law enforcement powers for Sheriffs which was House Bill 466 which was from February 21 2008.  As we all know this House Bill was one of many that never was sent to Legislation to be voted on. 

SHERIFF MERSKI: Mr. Chairman, I would like to introduce Sheriff Gerringer from Montour County. He would also like give some

compelling testimony to the committee. Would that be possible? CHAIRMAN CALTAGIRONE: Okay. Is it very –

SHERIFF GERRINGER: Very short.

CHAIRMAN CALTAGIRONE: Is it very short? Okay. Because, as you know, we got a long list of testifiers here today and some of

the members are going to have to leave the room for Appropriations a little bit later on.

But go ahead.

SHERIFF GERRINGER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning. My name is Ray Gerringer. I’m the Sheriff of Montour County. On behalf of all sheriffs and deputy sheriffs and citizens of Montour County, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee for conducting the informational hearing on this vital issue concerning the sheriffs in Pennsylvania.

Let me begin by telling this committee that I have been with the Montour County Sheriff’s Office since February 5th, 1978. In January 2004, I was sworn in as the elected sheriff of Montour County and on January ‘4th of this year I was sworn into my second term of office. Prior to being elected sheriff, while serving as a deputy sheriff, a chief deputy sheriff, and a chief county detective, I attended and successfully completed the proscribed courses of study with the Pennsylvania Deputy Sheriffs’ Education and Training Commission, the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission, and also attended and successfully completed the Pennsylvania Electronic Surveillance and Wiretapping Control training. In addition to the statutory –statutory courses, I have attended and completed well over 100 courses of study related to criminal law, criminal investigations, and specialized narcotic enforcement and I continue to receive yearly recertification as required under Pennsylvania law. The Montour County Sheriff’s Office, like all other Pennsylvania sheriffs, continue to provide deputy sheriffs with training and recertification every two years as per Act 2. Those deputies that have attended the Act 120 training receive recertification yearly by purchasing tickets from MPOETC. This training is the type that the municipal police are receiving each year. This training must be completed in accordance with Pennsylvania law.

In Montour County the sheriff’s office and all municipal police work together diligently each day, working together as a team to ensure the citizens of Montour County receive the best law enforcement that they deserve and they presently pay for. Montour County is an eighth class county with 11 government bodies within the county, which has approximately 18,236 citizens and covers approximately 131 square miles. The county only has two municipal police departments with 13 full-time officers. The — all the other municipalities depend on the Pennsylvania State Police for law enforcement protection. The Pennsylvania State Police that are assigned to cover Montour County are out of the Milton station, which is located in Northumberland County. The State Police from Milton also cover part of Northumberland County and all of Union County. This station has a large area to cover. For many years in Montour County the Office of Sheriff and all law enforcement agencies have worked together side by side on law enforcement matters and for years it has proven positive for Montour County. For the record, there is no turf war along law enforcement in Montour County. It’s always been a team effort, and we’ve worked well together, and it’s made Montour County a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. Since the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision Kopko v. Miller, and now Commonwealth v. Dobbins, clearly the time is now for the General Assembly to pass legislation that sheriffs to enforce the laws of this great Commonwealth.

The people of Pennsylvania expect law enforcement to work aggressively to rid our communities of illegal drugs and the people that sell them. Pennsylvania sheriffs have been an integral part of this mission for many years.

As Sheriff of Montour County, I believe and share the same common mission as all other sheriffs of Pennsylvania, that we must protect and serve the citizens of our counties, and this should the most important service that government agency can provide. The need for this legislation, House Bill 466, is critical. Crime, drugs, and gangs are escalating, in small rural counties especially. House Bill 466 is not a Republican or Democratic issue. House Bill 466 is a public safety issue. The General Assembly needs to pass the bill and the Governor needs to sign the same into law. As Sheriff of Montour County and a proud father of two wonderful children, I respectfully request the General Assembly to work in a bipartisan effort for the passage of House Bill 466.

It is imperative for all Pennsylvanians, but for those in smaller rural counties with limited law enforcement, this bill is critical. Should House Bill 466 not pass into law, the only losers will be the good citizens of the great Commonwealth and the true winners will be the drug dealers and the criminal that violate our laws each day. Finally, all citizens of Pennsylvania deserve the best in law enforcement. It would be absolutely unacceptable to the citizens of rural counties to not enable sheriffs to participate in fighting crime.

Sheriffs and deputies, well over 2,000, already being trained, already being paid, stand ready to assist their law enforcement brothers and sisters when called upon. House Bill 466 is not about taking jobs away from municipal police. It’s not about more money for sheriffs’ budgets. Simply put, it’s about public safety.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and members of this committee.

The below was from a meeting held on Feb. 21 2008.  Their was a meeting held to discuss HB 466 for the Sheriff’s and Deputies to be Law Enforcement Officers.  Here is Testimony from Rep. Kula responding to one of Tom Caltagirone’s special interest groups which is Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Colonel Pawlowski who’s intentions was to sink this Bill, which they did.  Again I am not attacking all of PSP they do work hard but their are not many Troopers to spread around this state.  They (PSP) must stop from being territorial.  I mean really, let’s go after the bad guys, I get this feeling that somehow the Sheriff’s and Deputies are being missrepresented here.  Their are plenty of bad guys out there, enough for everyone and I don’t think the Sheriff’s and Deputies will take any work away from the PSP.  Let’s work together, give the Sheriff’s and Deputies Law Enforcement title which is long over due.

 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

 IRVIS OFFICE BUILDING

ROOM G-50

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008 10:04 A.M.

 REPRESENTATIVE KULA: Thank you,Mr. Chairman, and I thank you for your testimony, Lieutenant Colonel. I have couple of questions and maybe as well as a statement. My area covers Fayette County which is where the Uniontown State Police barracks is located, and I’m sure you can attest to the fact that the Uniontown State Police barracks is the busiest barracks within the Commonwealth as far as crime. Not that that is a great thing for Fayette County, but I can tell you — it has come a long way and we’re very proud of the accomplishments we’ve made. But I — your question was when  someone calls for a burglary, that your home is being burglarized, who responds? Now, the township that I represented as a magisterial district judge had no local police officers. So obviously State Police handled that. So if there was no local police, obviously the State Police would respond. What would happen if there was local police if someone called the State Police? LT. COLONEL PAWLOWSKI: If there were local police –REPRESENTATIVE KULA: Yes. LT. COLONEL PAWLOWSKI: — there? The local police, if they were on duty, would respond because they’d retain primary jurisdiction of the call. REPRESENTATIVE KULA: So that call would be made to 911 I would assume. Probably. Okay. LT. COLONEL PAWLOWSKI: Possibly.

REPRESENTATIVE KULA: So it seems then that that could be covered by the 911 dispatchers as to whether there’s a local police, there’s not a local police, in coordination with the State Police as to

during certain hours who would be contacted to cover that particular area. I can tell you, as a district judge, I would have complaints from people coming into the office and indicating that they had

called, the State Police were contacted, and no — I am not in any way degrading the State Police because I know the tough job that they do — but the time that would –that elapsed until that response was made by the State Police, because there just are not enough to cover every minute of the day and not knowing what type of crimes are going to be committed. So it seems that — and we have sat

in this Judiciary Committee — I’ve been here over a year now — and listened to the problems throughout the Commonwealth of there not being enough police officers on the street, that we are lacking the presence of police to help to deter the amounts of crimes that are being committed. And it seems to me that this legislation would certainly help to put the police presence out on the street. We also have been very active in expanding the scope of practice in many parts of the medical profession. Because we — and That these are people that are trained to do something, and we are not using that training

to the best of their ability and to all areas that we should. And this seems to be another area that we have people trained, we have people out there that can help protect this Commonwealth, but we are not using — utilizing those officers to be able to use that training to do what we need to do. I mean are the State Police — are you — is your testimony here today specifically in opposition to this legislation?

LT. COLONEL PAWLOWSKI: Yes.

How about having a little respect for these men in uniform.  Your own community is crying our for help to have more men in uniform but yet you refuse to give them that.  We are facing a situation here in Berks County as well as over the State of Pennsylvania a shortage of Law Enforcement Officers but yet you continue to refuse to give the Sheriff’s and Deputies Law Enforcement Powers.  You continue to put the citizens at risk to protect your special interest groups, selling your constituents out. 

You have ignored at least 3 House Bills i.e. HB477, HB1789 and HB2418.  You have ignored all three of these House Bills.  Shame on you Tom.  We the people deserve as much protection as we can get but yet you bury your head in the sand. 

You are part of the problem in America today.  People are fed up with politicians that support special interest groups and are fed up with this kind of attitude.

Citizens of Pennsylvania deserve respect how about showing it!

We all have to move this forward.  This is not a Bill that represents Republicans or Democrats this is about the Citizen of Pennsylvania. 

CLICK ON THIS PLEASE —GOVERNOR’S CENTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES   You know who is selling us out to special interest groups, it would be Pennsylvania House of Representative Thomas Caltagirone.   Tom is one of the responsible parties along with the special interest groups that is exposing out citizens of  Berks County and Pennsylvania citizens to crime .  The special interest groups who he represents and not the citizens are the Chief’s of Police of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Police, DA’s of Pennsylvania and the FOP.     Their resistance by these special interest groups to having the Sheriff’s and Deputy’s Law Enforcement Officers is that they are afraid the Deputy’s will take some of there territory from there men.  Can you imagine these Law enforcement agency’s are not worried about our Safety or protection but it is for their own self interest, protecting themselves from what they call losing their territory.  Like there is not enough crime in this state.  But yes folks this is who Tom stands behind.    I had told Tom that you’re in office because you were voted there by the people of this county not because of these special interest groups.  I know that Tom understands the Crime urgency here in Berks County and the state but I wonder why he continues to stand behind these special interest groups?   

I ran and article in my blog about Tom and from that I received a phone call from him not liking what I said.  We talked it out and from the conversation he sounded very interested in my cause.  So I said to Tom that I would remove my article and we could work together to have a House Bill introduced on the floor to have Deputy’s Law Enforcement Officers.  Well unfortunately things are looking like they are turning south on this project. I have since called and sent numerous emails with no reply’s.

I was told that special interest groups again are against this bill per Tom via backroom closed door meetings. This is far from the first time these special interest groups ran to Tom and cried that their turf is being invaded. You see it’s all about territory and not the safety of the citizens of this state. These special interest groups should be ashamed of themselves.  This cause is very important to me and for the people of Pennsylvania. When I get the feeling that I am being made a fool of then it upsets me. So I am adding this back into my blog for all to read.  

I think Tom should move forward and  issue a press release stating that it’s time for the Deputy’s and Sheriff’s of this state to get a fair shake and add them to the list of Law Enforcement Officer’s. I think it’s time for Tom to support the Sheriff’s and Deputy’s of Pennsylvania and the citizens of this State. I think when these special interest groups meet with Tom that this should be and open forum taped where everybody in this state knows what was said and if the Special Interest Groups don’t want this open forum then tell them to leave your office.   

By having Deputy Sheriff’s as Law Enforcement Officer’s means more  men in blue on the street.  Reading stands to lose over 100 Police within a year but yet you (Tom) are keeping these Deputy’s from becoming law enforcement officers and protecting the people of Reading. We have areas in Berks county that have no police protection.  Please explain that a year from now to your constituents who dial 911 and no one shows up for and hour or two.  You would think in today’s society that one would want more men in blue.  Nope, not  according to Tom Caltagirone and his old crony special interest groups.  

Most of the Deputy’s have Act 120, some Deputy’s are retired police officers, and some are other officers of the law.  These men have what it takes to be law enforcement officers immediatly.

In my opinion Tom Caltagirone has sold out to special interest groups. He has lost touch with the citizens of Berks County his constituents and to the citizens of Pennsylvania but I am hoping that he changes his mind and supports the Sheriff’s and Deputy’s. 

Let me briefly explain that State Police  will protect those that have no Police coverage, and don’t get me wrong they (State Police) do a wonderful job at what they can to protect us but guess what if you have to rely on a state trooper showing up at your door in minutes you are mistaken.There are so few troopers to go around these days do to cut backs and of personnel and overtime so don’t hold your breath waiting .  When you need help you need it instantly and the State Police can’t give you that!  We need the Sheriff and his Deputies who are local that can make that quick responce.  

 The Sheriff and his Deputy’s could if given law enforcement duties patrol any where in the county which would be good for the community but supposedly bad for the State Police since they are the only ones who can  cross jurisdictions.  So jthe State Police are not up to sharing with another law enforcement agency. Can you believe this, a law enforcement agency not wanting another law enforcement agency to patrol and help fight crime and protection.  They  the State Police put us in jeopardy because they want to preserve their territory.  So the State Police climbed in bed with good ole Tom and every chance a House Bill comes up to pass a House Bill  making the Deputies law enforcement officers good ole Tom ignores the house bill and it dies before it gets voted on.   Remember the State Police are not the only Law enforcement agency who does not want the Deputy’s as Law enforcement Officers we also have the Police Chiefs and the FOP and the DA’s.  They share the same feeling’s as the State Police. Are any of these agency worried about our protection I don’t think so.  Sounds like the special interest groups are worried about their territory only not us.   PRETTY SICK ISN’T IT?  

I am sick and tired of these Special interest groups putting our lives at stake over what they think is their Territory. I am sick and tired of these special interest groups walking thru Tom’s door and having secret meetings. I am sick and tired of these special interest groups bad mouthing Sheriff’s and Deputy’s and making accusations that are simply not true.

Tom it’s time to support this cause and tell these special interest groups to get on board or the train leaves without you.  Let’s get this over with and finally pass a HB that gives Law enforcement Officer as a title to Sheriff’s and Deputy’s.  

These are new times. 

Kerry Hummel

We need more of thisBy Don Spatz
Reading Eagle
Berks County Sheriff Eric J. Weaknecht urges enactment of legislation giving sheriffs more powers during a Thursday meeting of the Berks County Patriots in the Leesport Farmers Market.

After moldering for years, a movement to give Pennsylvania county sheriffs far wider police powers is being pushed by a new group and reconsidered by the state Legislature.

It’s a move that Berks County Sheriff Eric J. Weaknecht says is long overdue.

“They (legislators) need to give us the authority that we should have,” Weaknecht told more than 200 Berks Patriots gathered Thursday night at the Leesport Farmers Market.

“We have 81 people (deputies) who can assist anytime, anyplace in Berks County that needs help,” he said. “We’re not looking for a countywide police department; there are plenty of police departments doing a fantastic job.”

But if in the deputies’ other duties they uncover a crime, they should have arrest powers, he said.

Patriot Chairman James Billman was more emphatic.

The Constitution considers sheriffs to be the top county law enforcer, he said, but the Legislature turned those powers over to local police departments, district attorneys and state police.

“We want to give them back the constitutional authority they never lost,” Billman said.

That’s why the Patriots have begun a fledgling movement called the Sheriffs Project.

In the past four months, the party has gotten 21 of the state’s 67 county sheriffs – including Weaknecht – to push for the legislation.

When the Patriots get two more, or more than a third of the sheriffs, they will go to the various county commissioners and the Legislature.

If a deputy sees a crime – such as a motor vehicle violation – an arrest can be made. Berks deputies began that practice several years ago.

But if, for example, a deputy is serving a warrant and someone reports a crime the deputy didn’t see, courts have ruled that the deputy can’t investigate, act on the report and make an arrest.

The deputy can hold the suspect, but has to call in the local police to make the arrest.

“To tie up local police that’s ridiculous,” Weaknecht said.

A bill already is before the House Judiciary Committee, but Weaknecht said too many local and state police associations were against it, so it hasn’t moved.

Meanwhile, two other bills are being drafted that would restore differing levels of police powers to deputy sheriffs, but they have not been introduced, he said.

At the same time, he said the sheriffs are working with the police associations.