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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Bob Freeman |
  
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Freeman bill would allow housing authorities to establish police forces
HARRISBURG, June 17 -- A bill (H.B. 1674) that would allow public housing authorities to form police forces unanimously passed the state House today, according to the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton.
"Under current law, only housing authorities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have been allowed to form police forces," Freeman said. "Smaller cities and other municipalities across Pennsylvania have the same problems with crime. By allowing public housing authorities in these communities to form police forces, we would be able to add more police officers to help in the effort to combat crime."
Under the bill, housing authorities would be permitted to create police forces to patrol public housing projects. These officers would be required to complete the same course of instruction and accreditation as is required for municipal police officers under state law. Funding would come from public housing authority budgets for their own forces.
"Unfortunately, public housing projects can often be the site of higher levels of crime," Freeman said. "This is not fair to the law-abiding residents of those developments who are not engaged in criminal activity but whose lives could ultimately be in danger.
"With public housing authorities permitted to have their own police forces, municipal police in those communities would be freed up to address crime in other neighborhoods."
No housing authority would be required to form a police force, but would have the option to do so under Freeman's bill.
"Some authorities may choose to simply hire a detective rather than create a full-blown police force," Freeman said. "Either way, they could determine what would be the most appropriate approach to enhancing law enforcement efforts."
The idea for the legislation was recommended by Larry Hendershot who served on the Easton Housing Authority and is a former police officer.
The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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