Public safety is among the fundamental functions of government. I believe all families in Fayette County have a right to feel secure in their homes, neighborhoods and communities.
The municipal police departments and Pennsylvania State Police are under increasing pressure to provide service over large geographic areas while dealing with limited staff and growing needs.
As County Commissioner, I plan on enhancing inter-agency collaboration between law enforcement organizations and ensuring that the county’s resources are being utilized in ways that will have the greatest benefit.
The Law Enforcement Officers in our communities across Fayette County are being asked to provide more services with less resources.
In addition to the staffing pressure, drug related crime, and repeat offenders that law enforcement departments are facing, many of these departments have to deal with providing coverage over large geographic areas.
I believe that the challenges listed above must be addressed prior to reaching a critical stage.
I am in support of evaluating an increase of public safety responsibilities for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office to the extent that Pennsylvania Law provides for this.
Fayette County currently employs trained Law Enforcement Officers. My goal is to evaluate if there is a way to utilize these officers more efficiently to support the agencies that are currently providing protection to our communities.
In order to accomplish this, I would like to explore increased cooperation among agencies in many different aspects.
I would like to determine what level of additional law-enforcement presence the Sheriff’s Deputies are able to provide to other agencies, during times of resource shortages.
I would like to encourage greater cooperation between the Sheriff’s Office, Municipal Police Departments, Pennsylvania State Police, Drug Task Forces, and Prosecutors to eliminate illegal drug activity.
Individuals who have outstanding warrants should not be permitted to avoid the laws. I would like to use county resources more efficiently to locate and capture wanted individuals.
The Sheriff’s Office has significant existing responsibilities including Courthouse and County Security. If the Sheriff’s Office assumes additional responsibilities they must ensure that their current responsibilities will continue to be carried out appropriately.
My objective is not to replace municipal police agencies.
It is to provide a support system for municipal police agencies.
The local police officer understands his/her community.
The local police officer knows the neighborhoods, residents and some of the issues that exist within that community on an ongoing basis.
Smaller police departments have staffing and/or financial constraints.
As Commissioner I will identify feasible methods that county government may assist local law enforcement, while avoiding excessive bureaucracy and/or duplication of services.
The drug epidemic is creating a tremendous amount of stress for families, communities, first responders and law enforcement across Fayette County.
I would like to see agencies work together to concentrate their efforts and resources on those who are bringing fentanyl and other harmful drugs into our communities.
This will require greater collaboration between the following agencies:
I believe that by improving communication and coordinating our enforcement activities we can better allocate our finite resources towards repeat offenders, traffickers and organized crime related to drugs.
Supporting law enforcement does not mean giving them a blank check.
Any increase in the county’s public safety function will need to be clearly defined with specific goals; a budget that supports those goals and is accountable to the public; and a plan for evaluating the success of the new program.
In order to spend tax dollars wisely, I would like answers to the following questions:
This is my philosophy regarding government.
The men and women protecting Fayette County already do difficult and dangerous work every day.
I want county government to be a better partner to them.