PA Sheriffs’ Association holds rally in Capitol Rotunda seeking to restore law enforcement duties for 2,300 deputy sheriffs; Supreme Court decisions hurt efforts to fight drugs and combat crime
 
HARRISBURG – Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, along with state lawmakers and concerned citizens, today held a rally in the Capitol Rotunda to urge the General Assembly to restore the law enforcement duties of the nearly 2,300 deputy sheriffs serving in Pennsylvania counties.

In February 2006, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in the Kopko case that sheriffs and deputy sheriffs were not defined as “law enforcement personnel” under state law.  The decision resulted in the Pennsylvania Attorney General removing the deputy sheriffs from drug task forces across the Commonwealth.

In November 2007, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld its ruling in the Dobbins case and remanded a methamphetamine conviction to the trial court for reconsideration.  In its ruling, the court said that, as the law is written, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs have authority “no different from that of a private citizen.”

House Bill 466, sponsored by Rep. Craig Dally (R-Northampton), would authorize the sheriffs and deputy sheriffs to participate in law enforcement duties as needed in their communities.  The Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association is urging state lawmakers to vote for the bill and for Governor Edward Rendell to sign it into law.

“Pennsylvania needs this legislation.  There are nearly 2,300 fully trained deputy sheriffs who are prepared to join the fight against crime in our communities and protect our citizens,” said Erie County Sheriff Bob Merski, President of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association.  “The need for their service is felt especially in rural communities, which do not have as many municipal police forces as do cities and suburban counties.”

    The PA Sheriffs’ Association also announced the launch of a website where supporters of sheriffs can obtain the latest news on House Bill 466.  The address of the new website is: www.supportpasheriffs.org.

    “We created this website as an informative tool for sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and citizens to learn about our efforts to protect Pennsylvania communities,” Merski said. “We hope that citizens from across the Commonwealth will voice their support of this legislation.  We believe they deserve more law enforcement protection, not less.”

    The Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association in spring 2006 conducted a poll that showed 65 percent of Pennsylvanians supported giving the fully trained, state certified deputy sheriffs the authority to make arrests and investigate crimes.