READING EAGLE Editorial: …Right now we have a fractionalized structure of law-enforcement leaders and services, all trying to be effective but limited by their mission and jurisdiction.
Although we all have the best intentions, try to cooperate and on occasion engage in joint operations, we all serve different masters with different priorities, hampering our ability to be a cohesive force to combat crime.
A county police force would make the best use of our available funds and resources. It also would put a halt to nonpolice agencies expanding their mission and personnel to take part in municipal policing efforts instead of concentrating on their own important roles in the criminal justice system…
Reading and the rest of Berks County cannot have the same success reducing crime by maintaining splintered jurisdictional boundaries and often redundant efforts. Local regionalization efforts have failed in too many cases due to the reluctance of elected officials to cede control… (more)
EDITOR: Lancaster Township is patrolled by the Manheim Township Police Department. It is both economical and we have no reason to believe it isn’t working out well. Perhaps the City of Lancaster should stand alone, but certainly all of the suburban police departments would be more economical and even more professional if merged.
