Legislation introduced to repeal cap on state police hires in Pa.

Yahoo

19-04-2025

Whether you're interested in working in law enforcement, with animals or as a musician, the Pennsylvania State Police may offer the right role — and they need more officers, says the state.
State Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore believes his newly introduced legislation to remove a cap on the number of state police is an answer to Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget address.
S.B. 641 will 'repeal the statutory limit on the number of police,' allowing the Pennsylvania State Police to 'hire the number of troopers that they see fit,' Flynn said.
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Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, of Dunmore, introduced legislation removing a hiring cap for Pennsylvania State Police.
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Pennsylvania State Police
Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Dunmore.
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Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, of Dunmore, introduced legislation removing a hiring cap for Pennsylvania State Police.
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'The complement in 2002 was like 4,700, and then in 2023 it went to 4,800, but they're still running close to the complement where we need more troopers,' Flynn said in a phone interview with The Times-Tribune.
According to a memo presented by Flynn, 'the last major increase in trooper complement occurred in 2002, and was capped at 4,741.'
'The population growth of Pennsylvania has increased by about 5% between 2002 and 2025,' Flynn explained in the public document. 'Simply based on population, the complement of PSP troopers should have increased by approximately 237. Instead, the General Assembly has only allowed for one increase since then, in 2023, by 100 additional troopers.'
In that time, Flynn said, state police responsibilities 'have only increased,' with the addition of 65 municipalities being included to their coverage area, along with 55 new legislatively mandated duties.
According to a legislative informational document issued in 2019 by the House Appropriations Committee, two-thirds of local full- or part-time police coverage in the state is primarily managed by the state, not by municipalities. Per the map provided in the report, about one-third to half of Lackawanna County at the time was depicted as being covered by state police, with about a third or so of Luzerne County under state police jurisdiction.
Flynn said a similar bill, H.B. 1280, passed unanimously in the 2023-2024 House Judiciary Committee, full House of Representatives, and Senate Law and Justice Committee, would allow for hiring 'probably over 100 or 200 more, possibly.'
Even with passage of the updated, bipartisan legislation — co-sponsored by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, of Lehman Twp., among others — the difficulty will lie in the hiring, Flynn said.
'The challenge is filing the spots, though, it's hard to get people,' he said. 'Our law enforcement has taken hits over the past couple years. When you do that to law enforcement, it makes it where people don't want to go into that field.'
He called a career in law enforcement 'a noble profession.'
'We really want to see people go into that profession. It's a great job, it's a great career,' he said. 'Though dangerous, some people find it very rewarding.'
Flynn recalled his own history working in law enforcement, having served as a prison guard in Lackawanna County from 2002 to 2012.
Myles Snyder, the communications director for the Pennsylvania State Police, agreed the profession is noble.
'Police officers and troopers face more public scrutiny than they have probably ever,' Snyder said. 'For the men and women who sign up to do it now, it's even more noble to have to stand in the face of public scrutiny at all times … and still remain professional, courteous to the people they serve, to the people they're sworn to protect, is incredibly noble.'
While Snyder noted it's department policy to not comment on pending legislation, he spoke at length about the benefits of becoming a state police officer, including excellent pay and benefits, and learning opportunities.
He described the wealth of avenues available to those who choose to pursue a career working with the sate police.
'It can be crime, tactical, helicopter pilot, canine handling, forensics, office of community engagement,' he said, explaining the department works to 'build bridges, relationships between our communities and state police.'
'Media relations and community service officers who handle school programs' are among state police options, he said, plus 'run-hide-fight, prom safety, stranger danger, and the RVAT team,' who assess churches, schools and other organizations to determine how to mitigate security risks.
He further added there are careers working with bomb squads, special emergency response teams and administration, and even music — for example, in a ceremonial unit playing bagpipes, drums or bugle.
Regarding more state police covering municipalities, Snyder said 'it fluctuates.'
'A small municipality township may have a one- or two-person police force — someone retires or maybe injured — can't cover all shifts, so we would come in and assist part time, no charge,' Snyder said. 'If their department closed, and they didn't have anyone to cover them immediately, say, through a merger of police departments … they may hire six months, a year or so after, and then that would return to municipal police coverage.'
Snyder encouraged those interested in the cadet selection process — including information on pay, duties, benefits and requirements — to visit PATrooper.com.