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. 

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.

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