Gettysburg Police Chief Robert Glenny attended a joint press conference today near the Harrisburg Capitol Building to support police funding legislation, Senate Bill 1193, that would allocate $100 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds to create the “Law Enforcement Recovery Grant Program.” The funds would be used to support police departments.
The proposed legislation is sponsored by state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) and state Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37). Also in attendance were Lieutenant Jon Greenawalt (Chambersburg Police Department) and Littlestown Police Chief Police Charles G Kellar.
The speakers at the event were in agreement that staffing was an issue in police departments and said the bill, if enacted, would help departments maintain staffing levels. Mastriano said the state currently has over 1,200 vacant police positions and that among the 50 states PA has had the third highest increase in violent crime since 2019.
Featured image: Glenny (right), Mastriano (center), and Kellar (left)
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was passed without a single Republican vote. The intent was to provide immediate relief to those affected by the pandemic. How very hypocritical and cynical it is for Mastriano to try and take those funds for police. Gettysburg borough apparently has done well enough to reduce our property taxes this year, yet supports this money grab for police. How are they supporting the businesses that had to shut down or suffer through the loss of tourism?
No law enforcement agency should hitch its wagon onto the seditionist mules of Sen. Mastriano. Coupled with the anti-1st Amendment citations issued by the department against Mr. Anselmi, this is not a good look at all.
This is likely a good idea, in contrast with most Mastriano ideas.