Weaknecht, Policy Committee Highlight Solutions to Strengthen Law Enforcement Workforce
August 20, 2026
BERKS COUNTY— Pennsylvania can address its law enforcement staffing shortage without lowering professional standards by strengthening career pipelines; improving training; and supporting the physical, mental and financial well-being of officers, according to law enforcement leaders who testified Wednesday during a House Republican Policy Committee hearing.
The hearing, “Protecting Pennsylvania: Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention,” was hosted by Rep. Eric Weaknecht (R-Berks) at Reading Regional Airport. Testifiers included Bern Township Police Chief Brett Forry; Carbon County Sheriff Daniel Zeigler,
representing the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association; Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Lt. Col. Christopher King and Special Assistant Brooke Meade; and Greg Rowe, senior counsel to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.
Also participating were Policy Committee Vice Chair Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks), Reps. Dan Moul (R-Adams), Mark Gillen (R-Berks), and David Zimmerman (R-Lancaster/Berks), along with representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and Congressman Dan Meuser.
“Recruiting law enforcement officers is critical to keeping our communities safe,” said Weaknecht. “As sheriff, one of my greatest challenges was training qualified deputies only to lose them to departments that could offer higher pay or better benefits. Now, as a state representative, I want to ensure those on the front lines have a voice in identifying what the Commonwealth can do to help.”
Pennsylvania employed approximately 24,300 police officers and sheriff’s deputies in 2024—an 11-year low and a 14% decline since 2013. Testifiers said departments that once received hundreds of applications for a single opening may now receive only a handful, while agencies compete against one another and the private sector for qualified candidates.
“Pennsylvania does not need to lower its standards to address this workforce challenge,” said Rowe. “We need to strengthen the pipeline into law enforcement, support those who serve, and restore the respect that will encourage qualified young people to view law enforcement as a meaningful, family-sustaining career. If we want talented people to enter the profession and experienced officers to remain, we must demonstrate through both our words and our policies that their service matters.”
Forry said the staffing crisis is already increasing overtime, fatigue and stress among officers. He recommended tuition assistance, academy scholarships, student loan repayment, recruitment incentives, and additional state support for training and officer wellness.
“Officer wellness is no longer optional; it is essential,” he testified. “Healthy officers provide better service to our communities.”
Zeigler described significant disparities in pay and benefits among counties. He said deputies may complete 19 weeks of academy training only to leave for a neighboring county offering substantially higher compensation for the same work. His office is currently operating at half staffing while remaining responsible for court security, prisoner transportation, warrant service, and other duties.
Greg Rowe emphasized that retention is especially important as criminal investigations become increasingly complex. “Experience matters,” he testified, pointing to sophisticated drug and human trafficking operations, technology-enabled crimes, and cases involving traumatized victims.”
King reported that the Pennsylvania State Police currently has 210 trooper vacancies and said the statutory complement cap limits the agency’s ability to train cadets in anticipation of future retirements. He encouraged lawmakers to remove the cap, an approach that has previously received bipartisan support in the General Assembly.
“We anticipate having a large number of retirements at the beginning of next year, and we cannot fill those positions fast enough,” King said. “Removing the complement cap would help us anticipate those workforce needs and give us greater flexibility to meet them.”
Testifiers also highlighted the importance of reaching prospective officers earlier through high school, technical education, college, youth leadership, and mentorship programs. They stressed that compensation alone will not solve the problem.
A full video of the hearing can be found here.
Representative David H. Rowe
85th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nancy Nilson
nnilson@pahousegop.com