Berks Patriots advocate powers for sheriffs

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.