Page 6 - PCPA Winter 2023 Bulletin Magazine

6
PA CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As 2023 comes to an end I am concerned, as well as are all law
enforcement, about the sign of the times. In Northeastern Pennsylvania,
we are living through a challenging era marked by a surge in threats
and violence that has profoundly impacted our community. Recent
incidents, such as multiple bomb threats, have cast a shadow over our region.
These issues hit close to home and we have witnessed the remarkable power of
collaboration between local, state and national law enforcement in our response
to these pressing challenges.
Our region has not been immune to the increasing wave of threats and violence.
Recent news reports indicate that at least nine school districts in Lackawanna,
Luzerne and Wyoming Counties were targeted with threats. Wyoming Area, Lake
Lehman, Dallas, Wilkes-Barre Area, Northwest, Nanticoke and Crestwood Area
School Districts were forced to evacuate their schools due to these threats.
In response to these incidents, Scranton and Tunkhannock Area School
Districts, though understandably concerned, chose not to dismiss students after
law enforcement confirmed that the threats were not credible. They received
assurance from the police and FBI that the threats circulating among the school
districts in the area were hoaxes.
It is a somber reality that our children have to go through such experiences,
emphasizing the importance of treating all threats serious, regardless of their
veracity. As demonstrated by the recent case involving a man from Peru who
made over 150 threats to schools and healthcare facilities in our area, these
incidents demand rigorous investigation, irrespective of the inconvenience they
may cause.
Furthermore, as these threats persist, we just witnessed the tragic incident
in Lewiston, Maine, where a gunman opened fire at a bar and bowling alley,
resulting in at least 22 casualties and numerous injuries. The national manhunt
for the suspect underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts and the
significance of effective law enforcement during times of crisis.
As we confront these threats and challenges, it becomes evidence that we must
stand together as a united front. Our local, state and national law enforcement
agencies must coordinate their efforts, just as we have seen in response to
recent threats in our area. By pooling our resources, sharing information, and
adopting innovative solutions, we can better protect our communities.
Moreover, our unified response should involve the allocation of additional
resources to enhance security measures, improve response times, and invest
in the training of our law enforcement personnel. Policymakers and community
leaders must collaborate to create robust policies that address the specific
security challenges faced by not only Northeastern Pennsylvania, but nationwide.
IN NORTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA, WE
ARE LIVING THROUGH
A CHALLENGING ERA
MARKED BY A SURGE IN
THREATS AND VIOLENCE
THAT HAS PROFOUNDLY
IMPACTED OUR
COMMUNITY. RECENT
INCIDENTS, SUCH
AS MULTIPLE BOMB
THREATS, HAVE CAST
A SHADOW OVER OUR
REGION.
DEAR MEMBERS,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8