November 24, 2015
Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency Announces First Meeting of the Pennsylvania
Law Enforcement Executive Policy Board
Harrisburg, PA. — The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency’s (PCCD) Law Enforcement Executive Policy Board recently held its
inaugural meeting at the Governor’s Residence.
The board was tasked by PCCD Chairman Shapiro to work together to
develop policy recommendations and strategies to address the common issues the
law enforcement community is facing today. There is no similar group in the
Commonwealth today.
“I have
heard from law enforcement officials across the Commonwealth about the
challenges they are facing and their desire to better coordinate, plan and
learn from their colleagues,” said Chairman Josh Shapiro. “This board is a way to bring these
high-level officials together from all corners of Pennsylvania to discuss best
practices and make Pennsylvania safer.”
The board
consists of representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania
State Troopers Association, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Philadelphia Police
Department, Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, Pennsylvania Chiefs of
Police Association, the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, Office of
Attorney General, Chairman of PCCD’s Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, and
PCCD Chairman Josh Shapiro.
At their
initial meeting they strategized about common issues faced by each agency and
department. They agreed to form working
groups to tackle these challenges in a productive, multidisciplinary manner and
then meet quarterly as a board going forward.
Additionally, Commissioner Charles Ramsey of the Philadelphia Police
Department presented key findings and recommendations from the President’s Task
Force on 21st Century Policing. Chief Ramsey was a Co-Chair of President Obama’s national task force.
“Words
cannot express how pleased I was to be invited to participate in the first
meeting of the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Executive Policy Board,” said Chief
Robert Jolley, President of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. “I
have no doubt that the members bring to the table a wealth of knowledge that
will help move Pennsylvania’s justice system in to the future. I was truly
enlightened at the first meeting and look forward to the next.”
”It was
important that everyone who participated in this initial meeting was able to
share what they believed to be the biggest issues facing their organization,”
Shapiro said. “What we discovered is
that there are common issues such as police-community relations, firearms
violence, heroin and opioid abuse, and an increase in justice involved
individuals with mental illness that we are all looking to address. It is my
hope that through this board we can work together to come up with solutions to
address these challenges.”
Our Mission is to enhance the quality, coordination and planning
within the criminal and juvenile justice systems, to facilitate the delivery of
services to victims of crime, and to increase the safety of our communities.
MEDIA CONTACT: Matthew Leonard, 717.265.8539
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