PA candidates for governor weigh in on the cost of law enforcement

Four of the six candidates for governor of Pennsylvania say they’d rule out charging municipalities for state police protection.

Four of the six candidates for governor of Pennsylvania say they’d rule out charging municipalities for state police protection.

Speaking at a forum before the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Democrats Dan Onorato, Jack Wagner, and Joe Hoeffel, as well as Republican Sam Rohrer, said they don’t support bills that would assess fees to local governments who do not have their own law enforcement operations.

Attorney General Tom Corbett drew murmurs from the crowd when he didn’t take a direct stance on the issue.

Corbett says he wants to balance out the state police system of providing local coverage.

Corbett:
Because we have many communities that can’t afford it, but many communities, of 10-thousand or more and we’ve seen this before, that say well we’re not going to tax our people. We’re going to let the state police do it. We have to bring a balance to this.
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After the forum, Corbett, the Republican front runner, said it’s a complex issue.

Corbett:
I didn’t rule it out, but I didn’t rule it in, either. I’m saying this is a much broader picture that we have to get a handle on.

A measure before the House would charge a fee of $100 per resident to communities of more than 10,000 people who don’t have their own police force.