State Police of Crawford and Erie Counties
Encyclopedia
The State Police of Crawford and Erie Counties was a volunteer organization providing police
service in northwest Pennsylvania
, not to be confused with the unaffiliated Pennsylvania State Police
. It was disbanded in 2005, after the Pennsylvania General Assembly
revoked its authority.
As there was no police presence in northwest Pennsylvania, the state legislature passed a law that year giving the posse full police powers.
At its heyday, in the 1940s, the State Police of Crawford and Erie Counties had more than 4,000 members. But its ranks dwindled, and the group's duties were eventually relegated largely to crowd and traffic control at local events. Members could still carry firearms and make arrests, though many chose to simply detain suspects until the police arrived.
Membership in the State Police of Crawford and Erie Counties was solely decided by a three-fourths vote of its members. No training was required, though it was provided by many of the group's senior members.
In 2005, the Pennsylvania State Police, concerned that people would mistake the volunteer group as the actual state police
, convinced the state legislature to repeal the 1872 law. The group has largely disbanded, though a few members are seeking ways to keep the group active.
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
service in northwest Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, not to be confused with the unaffiliated Pennsylvania State Police
Pennsylvania State Police
The Pennsylvania State Police is the state police force of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. It was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, in response to the private police forces used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes and the inability or...
. It was disbanded in 2005, after the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
revoked its authority.
History
The group was founded on April 3, 1872, under the name 'State Police of Crawford and Erie Counties' to recover stolen horses and detect thievesAs there was no police presence in northwest Pennsylvania, the state legislature passed a law that year giving the posse full police powers.
At its heyday, in the 1940s, the State Police of Crawford and Erie Counties had more than 4,000 members. But its ranks dwindled, and the group's duties were eventually relegated largely to crowd and traffic control at local events. Members could still carry firearms and make arrests, though many chose to simply detain suspects until the police arrived.
Membership in the State Police of Crawford and Erie Counties was solely decided by a three-fourths vote of its members. No training was required, though it was provided by many of the group's senior members.
In 2005, the Pennsylvania State Police, concerned that people would mistake the volunteer group as the actual state police
State police
State police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
, convinced the state legislature to repeal the 1872 law. The group has largely disbanded, though a few members are seeking ways to keep the group active.
See also
External links
- House Bill 1178 - Law that repealed the group's authority