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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Robert Freeman
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House passes Freeman’s housing authority police force bill
HARRISBURG, July 1-- The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill today introduced by Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, that would allow public housing authorities to form their own police forces.
"Currently, only housing authorities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh can form their own police forces," Freeman said. "But smaller cities and other municipalities in the state face the same problems with criminal activity that the larger cities do. This bill would allow all public housing authorities to form police forces in an effort to combat crime."
Under the measure, police officers recruited for the authority would have the same police powers as municipal police officers, provided that they undergo the same training and course of instruction. Freeman said these additional forces could relieve some of the strain imposed on current municipal police forces.
"There are times when criminal activity in public housing projects can stretch municipal police departments thin," said Freeman, chairman of the House Local Government Committee. "A separate force dedicated to responding to complaints and to combating crime and drug activities at public housing units would make these areas safer, and free up municipal police officers for other calls in the community.
"Although the bill would give every housing authority the option to form their own police force, they are not required to do so. Some housing authorities may find there is no need to create a separate police force or they may simply want to hire a police detective to assist in efforts to keep on top of criminal activity in particularly troubled housing developments. My legislation gives housing authorities an additional tool to help them crack down on crime and keep their residents and neighbors safe," Freeman said.
The idea for the legislation was recommended by Larry Hendershot, who previously served on the Easton Housing Authority and is a former police officer.
The bill (H.B. 422) now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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