Centre County recently underwent a consolidation of its state police barracks. According to the Centre Daily Times, two previous state police stations, one in Rockview and one in Philipsburg, became one station. The county now has only one state police location, which is in Benner Township. This change has brought about many concerns for residents and officials.
The idea of once barracks per county is something that does not seem to be working for locals. There is an issue with response time and adequate coverage throughout the county. The number of arrests are down and so is the revenue associated with police activity. According to some leaders, this is a sign that officers are not able to do their jobs as effectively as they did prior to the consolidation.
Specifically, in the district that lost its barracks, there is a great decrease in coverage by law enforcement because that presence is no longer local. Crime is not down but criminal cases are, which is a huge concern for many.
Others do not see a reason for concern. However, there is an idea floating that perhaps a municipal force could be put in place to ensure law enforcement coverage of the area. However, it is still to be seen if that could become a reality. There may need to be more time before it is clear what is the best solution and if the consolidation was really the best idea. This information is for education and is not legal advice.