PRINTER'S NO. 643
No. 612 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY WOZNIAK, STOUT AND MUSTO, MARCH 4, 1997
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MARCH 4, 1997
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), entitled
2 "An act relating to counties of the third, fourth, fifth,
3 sixth, seventh and eighth classes; amending, revising,
4 consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto,"
5 further providing for police duties.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Sections 2511 and 2512 of the act of August 9,
9 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, are amended to
10 read:
11 Section 2511. Employes; Police.--(a) For the purpose of
12 performing all necessary duties relating to the establishing,
13 making, enlarging, extending and maintaining public parks,
14 buildings and other county-owned properties and for enforcing
15 the rules and regulations ordained or resolved by the county
16 commissioners or by any body or board of control where no
17 penalty or fine is involved, the county commissioners of the
18 county are hereby authorized to employ or appoint and equip
19 proper persons to do all necessary and proper work connected
1 therewith, including police or guard duty.
2 (b) The board of commissioners of any county of the third
3 class may, by ordinance, create or disband a county park police
4 force within the county. When such a county park police force is
5 created in accordance herewith, the county commissioners shall
6 have power to employ the number of officers as may be fixed by
7 the salary board of the county. The compensation of the county
8 park police officers shall be paid by the county.
9 Section 2512. Duty of Police.--(a) It shall be the duty of
10 the police, county park police or guards appointed to duty in
11 any recreation places, buildings and other county-owned
12 properties, without warrant, forthwith to arrest any offender
13 against the rules and regulations, ordained or resolved by the
14 county commissioners, that they may detect in the commission of
15 such offense, and to take the person so arrested forthwith
16 before a magistrate, alderman or justice of the peace having
17 competent jurisdiction.
18 (b) In the ordinance creating a county park police force,
19 the county commissioners shall designate a jurisdictional area,
20 which shall be limited to the geographic area upon which the
21 county park police officers shall have jurisdiction, and which
22 shall include only property owned, leased or controlled by the
23 county or by a county municipal authority, county redevelopment
24 authority, county industrial development authority or agency, or
25 county airport authority formed by the county, or by a community
26 college of which the county is a local sponsor, whether such
27 property is within or outside the territorial limits of the
28 county, and county roads, streets and highways located in county
29 parks and other property owned by the county or by a county
30 authority.
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1 (c) County park police officers shall have the power to make
2 arrests, without warrant, for all violations of the laws of this
3 Commonwealth or ordinances of the county for the violation of
4 which a fine or penalty is imposed, which they may witness, and
5 to serve and execute warrants issued by the proper authorities.
6 In cases of offenses for violation of any of the provisions of
7 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to vehicles), the power to make arrests
8 without warrant shall be limited to the jurisdictional area
9 defined in subsection (a) and in cases where the offense is
10 designated a felony, a misdemeanor or summary offense and cases
11 causing or contributing to an accident resulting in injury or
12 death to any person. County park police officers shall have the
13 powers and prerogatives conferred by law upon constables of the
14 Commonwealth.
15 (d) The county commissioners shall designate, from the
16 county park police officers, the chief and such other ranks or
17 classifications of officers as desired by the county
18 commissioners.
19 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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