We understand the urge to keep local policing local. In theory, each municipality having its own force means greater control over that department’s size and priorities. It can also mean (again in theory) local officers who know the streets and people.

But the truth is quite often the opposite. Luzerne County has 76 municipalities, some of which struggle to fill local elected offices such as mayor or council. Historically, many have found it increasingly difficult to afford a full-time police force, falling back on part-time officers supplemented by neighboring forces or the Pennsylvania State Police. It is not uncommon for one trained officer to hold part-time positions in more than one local department, using Velcro patches to signify which municipality he or she protects on any given sh

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