This is a list of law enforcement agencies in the state of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania says it has more police departments than any other state in the country. [1] According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics' 2008 Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, the state had 1,117 law enforcement agencies employing 27,413 sworn police officers, about 218 for each 100,000 residents. [2]
The Pennsylvania State Police have State Troopers who are certified to investigate Arson. Some local Fire Departments have Arson Investigators, however, their power is limited.
Constables
Note: This includes Federal Agencies that operate in PA, as well as state, local & private agencies. These Law Enforcement Agencies have full Police Powers. Many school districts have their own Police Force, districts that do not employ or have their own Police Force usually rely on the local police departments to supply a police officer, known as "School Resource Officers". Many County Sheriff's office's hire Armed Security Guards who are given Limited Law Enforcement Power. Humane Police Officers have Level 1 and Level 2 Officers. The SPCA's listed here are Level 1 Humane Police Officers who are Armed and have gone thru a Certified Police Academy and authorized with full Police Powers. Level 2 Humane Officers are unarmed, have limited training and have limited Police Powers. Housing Police also have Armed Police Officers, Level 1,who have gone thru a Certified Police Academy and have full Police Powers and level 2 Police Officers who are usually unarmed with limited Police Authority. The Pennsylvania Court of Pleas (County Courts) will not swear in any Level 1 Police Officer, unless that individual has gone thru a Certified Police Academy. Several joint municipalities hire sanitation police. Some counties also hire security guards with limited Powers. Some Hospitals have a police force to patrol their facilities and neighborhood.
There are also Private Communities in Northeast Pennsylvania that employ a private security force. These Agencies use various terms such as Department of Public Safety, Department of Community Safety, Department of Security, Community Rangers, Code Enforcement, etc. These Agencies ARE NOT Police nor sworn officers. These agencies are basically a security force for the community. Some are Armed, or (Pennsylvania ACT 235- which is a "Armed" security guard act), and drive in vehicles with red and blue emergency lights.* Since these vehicle operate on community or the private property in the community, the vehicles are immune from the Pennsylvania Emergency Vehicle statues, 4701 and 4702. However, these vehicles are not licensed as state emergency vehicles and cannot leave the property of the community. Several of these Departments are Hemlock Farms, Indian Head Estates, Sawcreek Estates, Wild Aces Estates, Pocono Lands etc.
Controversy: There has been a lot of controversy regarding private security officers in private communities impersonating Law Enforcement and acting within the scope of local police departments without justification. Ie: Motor Vehicles stops, responding to Criminal complaints, issuing of summons**. Many of the security guards have been arrested for impersonating Police Officers and unauthorized Vehicle warning lights. Because of the Pennsylvania state terminology for armed security guards (Act 235-Agent)***, many security guards feel empowered and entitled to identify as state agents. Notes:* Private community vehicles with Vehicle warning lights, red and blue, are usually reserved for Pennsylvania Police Departments, and currently, the State Attorney General has made a recommendation to remove all red and blue warning lights and replace with amber or green warning lights instead. This is due with many vacationers coming in from our of state and believing private security is law enforcement. Notes:**Citations issued by security guards on or in private communities such as Hemlock Farms, Pine Ridge, or Sawcreek Estates, are issued by the Homeowners Association and have no criminal or legal standing in District Court or Pennsylvania Motor Vehicles. Notes: *** Act 235 is called the 1974 Lethal Weapons Agent. It was designed for armed couriers of financial institutions such as banks and armored car carriers to be certified and allowed to carry Firearms in the performance of their jobs. The wording reflects a banks "Agent" to protect the property of said financial institution. The act does not allow an employee to carry a firearm, (The employee must also have a firearms carry permit), the act refers to the training or certification to carry a firearm in the performance on of non-sworn officers or "Agent of a private company". There is a current political movement to change this title to armed security courier or officer.
There are also Amusement Parks whose security guards have limited Powers, such as removal of persons or securing property.
Vehicles: Under Pennsylvania Title 4701 & 4702, only authorized Police vehicles may use Emergency Warning Vehicles with Red and Blue Lights. With the exception of the State Constable, (Whom use their personal vehicles and are not permitted nor allowed to use any warning lights), only the above departments may use Red and Blue Emergency Vehicle Warning lights. Under these statues, the Pennsylvania State Police may recognize a vehicle being used as an "Emergency Vehicle" and issue an Emergency Vehicle designation for said vehicle. Vehicles registered as Emergency Vehicles must carry emergency items, such as road flares, first aid kits, etc. (see PA Emergency Vehicle Designation for complete list of items)
City of Monongahela Police Department)
Allegheny County is a county in Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,250,578, making it the state's second-most populous county, after Philadelphia County. Its county seat and most populous city is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's second most populous city. The county is part of the Greater Pittsburgh region of the state, and is the center of the Pittsburgh media market.
Blair County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 122,822. Its county seat is Hollidaysburg, and its largest city is Altoona. The county was created on February 26, 1846, from parts of Huntingdon and Bedford counties. The county is part of the Southwest Pennsylvania region of the state.
Baldwin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, the borough's population was 21,510 as of the 2020 census.
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. A suburb of Pittsburgh, it is situated at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers. The population was 17,727 as of the 2020 census.
Millvale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Allegheny River, opposite Pittsburgh. The borough is located off Pennsylvania Route 28. The population was 3,376 at the 2020 census.
North Versailles is a first class township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,079 at the 2020 census. The township derives its name from the Palace of Versailles.
Maxatawny Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,906 at the 2010 census.
The office of Pennsylvania State Constable is a municipally elected, sworn Law Enforcement Officer throughout the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
The Maryland State Police (MSP), officially the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP), is the official state police force of the U.S. state of Maryland. The Maryland State Police is headquartered at 1201 Reisterstown Road in the Pikesville CDP in unincorporated Baltimore County.
A large metropolitan area that is surrounded by rivers and hills, Pittsburgh has an infrastructure system that has been built out over the years to include roads, tunnels, bridges, railroads, inclines, bike paths, and stairways; however, the hills and rivers still form many barriers to transportation within the city.
The 2010 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2010, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in Pennsylvania and other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
The Berks-Lehigh Regional Police was a multi-jurisdictional police department in eastern Pennsylvania. The agency provided law enforcement services to four incorporated municipalities in Berks and Lehigh counties. In Berks County, the department served Topton, Lyons, and Maxatawny Township. In Lehigh County, Upper Macungie Township was served by the agency.
The Port Authority Police Department is a law enforcement agency in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It is a transit police agency, authorized by Title 22, Chapter 33 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which provides policing, investigation and crime prevention services to Port Authority of Allegheny County facilities, routes and services.
All Public Safety officers have been properly trained in the performance of their duties. Training includes Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid certification, and lethal weapons training sufficient to qualify for Pennsylvania ACT 235 certification. Many of the officers are qualified to serve as municipal police officers having completed Pennsylvania's ACT 120 Training. In addition, they periodically attend advanced safety training courses.