State College Borough Council approved a resolution Monday night to once again let the local police department enforce noise violations at bars and clubs.
Council previously approved a measure to begin the process; however, due to changes in state law, language in council’s documents had to be altered and the measures re-approved Monday night.
Under the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, individual municipalities with local noise ordinances can request an exemption from the state law allowing a local police department to enforce noise violations at bars and clubs as an alternative to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Enforcement agency working with the state police.
The State College Police Department had the authority for 18 months, but it expired last December.
During the 18-month period State College police enforced the ordinance, the department received 18 amplified noise complaints in the borough. Based on the low number of calls for the issue, borough officials say the police department has the resources to take on the responsibility again.
The next step is for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to hold a public hearing on the matter. In the meantime, the LCE is responsible for enforcement.
The Tavern Association of State College supports the measure.
In other news, State College officials recognized the murder of a Pennsylvania State Trooper who was killed in Northeast Pennsylvania over the weekend.
At the recommendation of State College Police Chief Tom King, borough council paused for a moment of silence at Monday’s public meeting in honor of Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Bryon Dickson II who was killed in the line of duty Friday night.
King told council that Dickson, a graduate of Penn State University, was ambushed along with another trooper, who was seriously injured, during a shift change just before 11 p.m. at the Blooming Grove barracks in Pike County, which borders New York and New Jersey.
King says Dickson was “murdered by a person who shot him from a far distance with a .308-caliber rifle in darkness of night.”
King says 38-year-old Dickson is survived by a wife of 10 years and two children. Previously, he served in the U.S. Marines.
“I felt it was important that I, on behalf of the police department … recognize the life of Cpl. Bryon Dickson,” King says.
He also asked officials and the public to keep Dickson, his family and the injured trooper, Alex Douglass, in their prayers.
A $75,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
Anyone with information about the officer’s murder can call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-866-326-7256. All callers remain anonymous.
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