web1_DiNardo-cmyk.jpg

Detective: Men went for cheesesteaks after four killings

web1_Wolf_Tom-07-24-14-cmyk.jpg

Our Opinion: Despite progress, “It’s on Us PA” bills still earn support

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; U.S. Sen. Bob Casey believes Republican efforts to cut law enforcement funding will harm Pennsylvanians and he&#8217;s asking the GOP to reverse its course.</p><p>During a teleconference Thursday, Casey, D-Scranton, said the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are waging twin attacks on the economic and personal security of middle class families.</p><p>Casey said as it stands now, the administration&#8217;s budget proposes more than $40 million in cuts to the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program, which provides funding for state and local law enforcement. He went on to say that congressional Republicans have proposed the elimination of the COPS Hiring program, which has helped Pennsylvania communities hire 95 additional officers in the last five years.</p><p>&#8220;While the administration and Republicans in Congress scheme away in secret on a plan to give massive tax cuts to the super-rich, they are also trying to pass budgets that will undermine Pennsylvanians&#8217; safety by making deep cuts to law enforcement funding,&#8221; Casey said.</p><p>Over the last five years, from 2012 to 2016, Luzerne County has received $739,747 through the COPS Hiring Program and $112,858 from the Byrne Justice program.</p><p>Steve Kelly, spokesman for U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, responded to Casey&#8217;s claims.</p><p>&#8220;Congressional Republicans have backed efforts to ensure our police have the resources they need to do their jobs,&#8221; Kelly said. &#8220;At the same time, congressional Democrats worked with President Obama to block local police departments from obtaining critical, life-saving surplus federal equipment, including protective gear, for more than two years.&#8221;</p><p>Casey said Republicans in Congress are pursuing a budget that would eliminate the COPS Hiring Program, which puts more police officers on streets.</p><p>In Allentown, the city received $625,000 in 2014, enough to hire five officers.</p><p>In Pittsburgh, the police department received two awards in the last five years, totaling $3.3 million and allowing the addition of 28 officers.</p><p>Casey asked, &#8220;How are we safer if we eliminate this program?&#8221;</p><p>The senator made several more points Thursday:</p><p>&#8226; Pennsylvania has received $49.4 million over the last five years, and a lot of that &#8212; $14 million plus &#8212; is going directly to localities.</p><p>&#8226; Byrne JAG funds can be used for a variety of things that law enforcement might need, like personnel, training, and technical assistance.</p><p>&#8226; With the state in the grip of an opioid epidemic, the funds can also help pay for the life-saving Narcan antidote.</p><p>Casey said Allentown and Lehigh County received $62,429 last year to help train officers and improve marksmanship, and to purchase a portable license-plate reader to use on the highways to improve intelligence sharing.</p><p>He said Allegheny County received $284,661 for Pittsburgh and McKeesport, to purchase a patrol vehicle and forensic equipment and to document police reporting practices.</p><p>Philadelphia received almost $1.7 million to improve its criminal justice system.</p><p>&#8220;And my hometown, Scranton, got $20,920 to purchase and install mobile video recorders for patrol cars,&#8221; Casey said. The recorders will document all encounters between police and the public.</p><p>Casey said the Trump administration wants to decimate the JAG program and cut it by $43.5 million.</p><p>&#8220;These are the same Republican politicians blowing hot air about law and order,&#8221; said Casey. &#8220;Don&#8217;t talk about law and order, support the police officers who keep us safe.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_cops-grants-9-8-2017.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_cops-grants-9-8-2017.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL010317CaseyACA_2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">U.S. Sen. Bob Casey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL010317CaseyACA_2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>U.S. Sen. Bob Casey </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Casey rails against proposed cuts to law enforcement grants