Bill benefiting police officers at Fort Indiantown Gap passes state Senate

The state Senate unanimously passed legislation sponsored by state Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) to allow Fort Indiantown Gap police officers to be Act 120 certified under the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission.

Police officers at Fort Indiantown Gap currently complete all the same certification requirements as other municipal police officers in the state but are never assigned numbers by the commission, Alex Gamble, spokesperson with the Senate Republican Communications Office, explained in a press release. That can prevent them from being able to transfer to another police department without retaking the exam, the release noted.

“At a time when police officers are desperately needed, my bill would eliminate an unnecessary burden for them,” Gebhard said in a statement. “The change would help recruiting efforts at Fort Indiantown Gap. With the passage of my bill, the Fort Indiantown Gap police department would finally be treated like every other municipal police department, school police department and the Capitol Police.”

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According to a fiscal impact statement from the Senate Appropriations Committee, which regulates government spending in Harrisburg, the legislation would have “no fiscal impact” on commonwealth funds because it doesn’t change the training or certification requirements for the officers.

Senate Bill 1228 is similar to a bill that allowed automatic certification for school police officers. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.