Pashinski lauds law enforcement funding for Wilkes University
Northeast Delegation March 13, 2024 | 4:17 PM
HARRISBURG, March 13 – A $14,000 state grant to enhance law enforcement is heading to Wilkes University from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski announced today.
“Campus police officers are sworn police employed by a college or university to protect the private or public property of the campus and surrounding areas and the people who live, work and visit it,” said Pashinski. “Thanks to this funding and the Shapiro Administration’s part in awarding Wilkes University this money, students, faculty, staff and parents of students attending the university can feel safer when attending. This funding will help campus police protect, efficiently and effectively, those enrolled and those who work there, and I am proud to have helped acquire this funding for my alma mater to ensure a heightened level of campus and community safety.”
The goal of this funding is to support Act 120 training and recruitment activities for law enforcement officers. Act 120 is a mandatory training program for municipal police officers in Pennsylvania which is provided through the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission.
Supported by funding from the Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program established under Act 54 of 2022, eligible law enforcement agencies that do not cover the costs of Act 120 training can request up to $7,000 per new officer to support costs associated with the training, or, if they currently hire officers that are already Act 120-trained or the agency already covers training costs, apply for up $5,000 per new officer to support stipends, signing bonuses or marketing efforts. Priority consideration in awards goes to law enforcement agencies serving areas with high rates of violent crime and who have low clearance rates for violent crimes.
The solicitation will remain open for eligible law enforcement agencies to submit applications until all funding is committed. Awards will be announced on a rolling basis as applications are considered.
Applicants can find more information on funding requirements and how to apply on PCCD’s active funding announcements webpage.