Freeman Proposes Public Housing Police Forces

State Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, has introduced a bill that would give public housing authorities the option of forming their own police force. The mystery I'd like him to solve is how to fund it during an era of declining federal funding.

Noting that Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Housing Authorities have their own police departments, Freeman thinks that all public housing authorities should have that ability. But this is no simple matter of keeping up with the Joneses. In some areas, public housing projects are packed together. In others, they are spread out in different parts of the city. That's certainly the case here in the Lehigh Valley.

Freeman argues that a "public housing police force also would greatly enhance community policing efforts, making public housing projects safer for their residents and their families, especially children." He adds it would also reduce the burden on municipal police departments.

Freeman credits Larry Hendershot, a former police officer who served on the Easton Housing Authority, for this proposal.

While Bob's  has attracted support from Mike Schlossberg and Pete Schweyer, I expect to see it die of natural causes in the House Urban Affairs Committee.It makes little sense with no revenue stream in place to support it.