PA Governor Rendell Announces $10 Million in New Resources, Legislative Initiatives to Stem Rise of Gun Trafficking, Violence

22 July 2006

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said that $10 million in state funding is now available to police departments across Pennsylvania to hire additional officers to curb the growing violence that is plaguing many Pennsylvania cities. In a press conference in Philadelphia today, where 214 people have been murdered this year, he outlined what the state is doing to reduce gun violence, drug trafficking and youth violence statewide.

"The drug trafficking and gun running business has risen to a crisis level statewide and this week the violence was undeniable here on the streets of Philadelphia," said Governor Rendell. "To stop the trafficking, to stop the random drive-bys or violent murders committed in fits of rage, we must decrease the number of people who carry handguns, decrease the complicity with illegal gun trafficking and make it much harder for the bad guys to flood our streets with guns.

"While police officers alone cannot cure this epidemic, a stronger law enforcement presence in the most ravaged neighborhoods will improve safety for the law-abiding citizens who live and work there. Today, I am announcing Police on Patrol, which will provide the funding necessary to ramp up police presence on city streets and help to begin to stem the flow of illegal gun running, random violent acts against innocent citizens and drug trafficking across our commonwealth."

The Police on Patrol grant program, administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), will provide $10 million in funds for competitive grants to help major cities that are experiencing a rise in drug and gun violence hire more police to patrol their streets. The new program will mean $50,000 a year will be available for three years to those communities that demonstrate that they will hire new officers, above budgeted planned hires, who will be added directly to street patrol. Communities will be asked to make a commitment to continue to fund those positions fully in three years when state funds expire.

"Beyond the money and the long-term programs, I remain steadfast in my commitment to get some common sense gun laws on our books," said Governor Rendell. "Young people, law enforcement officers and every Pennsylvanian citizen is at risk when people illegally possess and sell guns in this state.

"Since the early 1990s, I have attempted to persuade legislators to return to our cities the power to issue permits to carry guns and to pass legislation limiting individual handgun purchases to a maximum of one a month. I continue to be frustrated that my efforts have been rebuffed, but recent events have demonstrated once again that as part of our overall strategy to combat gun violence in our most dangerous cities, these changes are becoming a matter of life or death."

As Mayor of Philadelphia, Governor Rendell made combating gun violence a top priority and created partnerships with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Attorney to replicate the successful strategies begun in Boston that integrated the work of police and probation to combat gun violence. He fought successfully to put nearly 1,000 new police officers on the street.

As Governor, he convened the Pennsylvania Commission on Gun Violence. And, through its recommendation, created The Pennsylvania Injury Reporting and Intervention System (PIRIS), a new and unique initiative through the Pennsylvania Department of Health to collect information on gunshot wound injuries. The information is used by state and local agencies and community partnerships to target activities, develop new programs and evaluate current violence reduction efforts.

PIRIS is built on a public health model and is the only initiative of its kind in the nation that combines surveillance with intervention as a means to directly control and prevent the impact of gun violence on our youth.

"Last March, I held a high-level summit on gun crimes and I pledged, at that time, to deploy Pennsylvania State Troopers to work with the Philadelphia Police Department to specifically help with their gun interdiction efforts," said Governor Rendell. "Since last fall, 23 troopers have been detailed to municipalities across the state to work with the ATF to investigate and help stop gun trafficking."

In 2005, 667 Pennsylvanians died as victims of homicides and firearms were involved in 84 percent (557) of these deaths.

Details of the new grant program include:

- The deadline for applications is Aug. 31, 2006;

- The funds must be used to hire full-time, sworn police officers;

- Up to $50,000 will be awarded for each officer hired for each of the

three years;

- No more than 50 percent of the total funds shall be awarded to

Philadelphia;

- No more than 20 percent of the total funds shall be awarded to

Pittsburgh; and

- Remaining funds will be awarded to municipalities with at least 20,000

residents and two or more homicides by firearm in 2005 as reported in

the Pennsylvania State Police Uniform Crime Report.

PCCD will award the grants on a competitive basis, examining how effectively the municipality has demonstrated that additional police officers would impact the reduction of violent crime and whether the new officers would be given training to enhance the conflict resolution and mediation skills needed in the communities they will serve.

To view the grant application and eligibility requirements, visit PCCD's website http://www.pccd.state.pa.us.

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116.

Source: prnewswire

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