Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Pennsylvania State Police will be sending 300 troopers and related personnel to Baltimore following civil unrest and riots.
The troopers, from stations across Pennsylvania, are being deployed along with other resources following an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request that was filed with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency earlier this week.
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“Pennsylvania will be prepared to send troopers and personnel from stations across the commonwealth to assist law enforcement in the City of Baltimore,” Acting State Police Commissioner Marcus L. Brown said. “Our troopers are highly trained to keep communities safe and secure and we are going to help the people of Baltimore and support their law enforcement efforts.”
Pennsylvania will also be sending an emergency management official trained and certified as an emergency management assistance compact administrator.
“Our troopers and emergency personnel are sources of pride for our commonwealth,” Governor Tom Wolf said in a statement. “Our thoughts will be with them and their families as they help our neighbors in Baltimore during this difficult time. We hope that with their assistance, calm will prevail and the Baltimore community can begin to move forward.”
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Baltimore police have already requested assistance from surrounding law enforcement agencies, the Maryland National Guard and New Jersey State Police, who were deployed Tuesday evening from Hamilton.
Several police officers and citizens were injured earlier this week during rioting and looting that overtook portions of Baltimore. The riots come after the in-custody death of Freddie Gray, whose family has said there is no rational justification for the actions of rioters in Baltimore.
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Officials in Harrisburg said Maryland will reimburse Pennsylvania’s costs associated with sending troopers.
State police last responded to an EMAC request in 2012. At the time, New Jersey authorities requested Pennsylvania troopers following Hurricane Sandy.
