WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — You've probably heard the phrase: "Crime knows no boundaries". Because of that, law enforcement officials say cooperation is crucial to fighting and deterring crime.
Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino sat down for a one-on-one interview on Monday with I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick.
They talked about a wide range of issues facing law enforcement in central Pennsylvania and beyond.
DA Marino says now, more than ever before, cooperation among law enforcement across the area is key to combating crime.
DA Marino says one of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement these days is youth violence and their access to guns and drugs.
"They travel to Philadelphia, the drug dealers, the gun dealers, give these kids, gangs, guns, give them a couple of guns, 'Here these are the drugs, I'm going to give you some money for what you are doing,' and send them out to Lycoming County and other counties," DA Marino said.
Mehalshick interviewed DA Marino for the podcasts on the 28/22 News CTV app. DA Marino says the juveniles also steal guns.
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"These kids are creative. In Lycoming County, we've had, I think, at least three break-ins into sporting goods stores, and they are stealing guns in addition to the guns coming in from Philadelphia from the dealers and the gun runners in Philadelphia," DA Marino added.
DA Marino also talked about the need for a juvenile rehabilitation center in central Pennsylvania. He proposed the facility last year.
"The expenses we send kids to Texas to house them, even though it started to be a $60,000,000 project with the architects and some contributors, hopefully we can have that down to below $30,000,000," DA Marino continued.
DA Marino insists the way to deter crime is to get juveniles the help they need.
"Well, that $30,000,000 goes to helping juveniles get the education they need. The approach from a psychologist to what they need and we can't afford not to put the money into something like this," DA Marino stated.
You can see Mehalshick's hour-long interview with DA Marino on the 28/22 News CTV app in the days ahead.
