WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Pennsylvania Attorney General, Dave Sunday wants to beef up crime fighting efforts across our state.
He met with local law enforcement to find out the challenges their departments are facing and how lawmakers can help.
While a number of issues were discussed, the drug epidemic and difficulty hiring new officers were some of the main concerns these departments brought to the table.
"If our communities aren't safe, nothing else matters," voiced Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.
Attorney General Dave Sunday met with local law enforcement Thursday afternoon to create an open line of communication between his office and police.
Leaders from multiple departments, local and state police, had a chance to make the challenges they are facing in their departments, known. A growing issue they all deal with drugs.
Sunday says having a proper drug task force is crucial to not only combating drugs on the street, but other crimes as well.
"Their number one job is to investigate and arrest drug dealers, but they are also at the tip of the spear with regard to so many other societal crimes," stated Sunday.
According to Sunday, the Attorney General's Drug Task Force Budget hasn't changed since 1995, something he says he's working to increase.
28/22 News spoke with Wyoming Area Regional Police Chief Michael Turner, who says this increase in funding is necessary to help them fight the growing issue.
"Should more moneys be allocated to this county for drug task force? Yeah, I mean there's a rise in drug investigations," stated Turner.
And while more funding will allow police to do their jobs more effectively, they must also focus on increasing manpower.
"I know some municipalities had, many years ago, had 100 applicants. Now they're lucky if they have 3 or 4," added Turner.
Turner says this issue is one that many departments have faced in the last few years, and was one of the main focuses of Thursday's meeting.
He says while nothing is set in stone just yet, they did discuss potential state-funded programs that would benefit those entering the career field.
"I encourage anybody that wants to get into law enforcement to get out and apply," encouraged Turner.
While no formal programs or budget increases were reached today, I'm told that this meeting was the first of many between the attorney general's office and local law enforcement.
