Law enforcement spans a wide range of services and assistance in the state of Pennsylvania, including the Pennsylvania State Police, Aviation, Vehicle Fraud Investigators, Forensic Services Unit, Patrol Services, Mounted Unit, Clandestine Lab Response Team, and more. With so many entities, Buddy Schum of Bucks County explains that there’s always news to remain abreast of.

From the Philadelphia police launching their latest tool for community policing to the boost in funding given by Governor Tom Wolf, below are the latest happenings in PA’s law enforcement world.

State Police Announce Q4 Firearms Background Checks

According to the PA State Police, the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) ran 321,664 background checks during the fourth quarter of 2022 alone, marking the second-highest quarter of the year.

PICS is utilized by county sheriffs, licensed firearms dealers, and the chiefs of police of cities across the state to establish people’s ability to purchase a firearm or obtain a license.

As per the latest announcement, the state police firearms administrative section conducted 916,709 firearms purchases or transfers checks throughout 2022. This broke down into:

• 521,737 handguns
• 364,236 long guns; and
• 30,736 frames and receivers.

Compared to 2021, the number of fourth-quarter checks reduced by 16,247, and the number of individuals denied decreased by 1,084. However, the total denials referred to law enforcement agencies increased by 566 individuals.

Philadelphia Police Launches Their Latest Tool in Community Policing

Recently, the Philadelphia Police Commissioner announced the latest tool the PA city will be utilizing in community policing — ABLE.

Otherwise known as Active Bystandership in Law Enforcement, ABLE is a research-based training program developed by the Sheppard Mullin law firm and the Georgetown Law Innovative Policing Program.

ABLE builds on the Ethical Policing Is Courageous Peer Intervention Program made by the New Orleans Police Department in partnership with Dr. Ervin Staub. It aims to empower officers to stop harmful behavior and craft a peer-supportive culture by teaching practical tactics and strategies.

Not only will this help improve the safety of Philly streets, but it’s also set to promote officer health and wellness through teaching recovery strategies for high-stress scenarios.

Governor Tom Wolf Boosts Police Funding

At the end of 2022, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the influx of $170 million in specialized funding heading to PA’s law enforcement agencies.

When creating the 2022-2023 budget, the funding was set aside — a task that was quickly ratified by houses of the legislature. Wolf signed it into law last July, securing it as his final budget.

The money is already earmarked for two essential programs — the Gun Violence Investigation and Prosecution (GVIP) and Local Law Enforcement Support (LLES). Both programs are administered under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).

Two hundred and twenty police departments across the commonwealth will receive a portion of the $170 million pot. However, funding amounts vary wildly.

Reportedly, the tiny Duncansville Borough receive $6,400, while Philadelphia received $25 million. The latter came after the city council approved a $30 million increase the area’s police department budget, raising it to $788 million.