Police Services

Regional Policing

Pennsylvania has more police departments than any other state in the country, and many are too small to provide a full range of police services. In fact, fifty-eight percent of the municipal police departments have less than ten officers.

The concept of regional policing is gaining favor among municipal leaders who are faced with stagnant or declining sources of revenue. Currently, there are 41 regional police departments representing 143 municipalities in 28 counties. Most regional police departments were created to strengthen existing police services in the areas of administration, supervision, training, investigation, patrol and specialty services.

Technical & Financial Assistance

The Governor’s Center for Local Government Services (GCLGS) provides technical and financial assistance to municipal police departments interested in regionalization. Grant funding is available through DCED’s Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) . Assistance from the GCLGS may include, but is not limited to, in-depth management studies to determine whether police consolidation is feasible.

To request technical assistance, municipalities can complete our Request for Technical Assistance (RTA) form.

Additional Resources

• Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission
• The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
• Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association
• Pennsylvania Coalition Against Drug Abuse
• Regional Police Guide | Strengthening Police Services

Contact Information

For more information on police services, contact the Center for Local Government Services at 888.223.6837.