Criminal Justice (Policing)

SB 1071 creates a new criminal offense for Pennsylvania law enforcement officers who conceal misconduct related to their duties. It amends statutes to define "criminal concealment" as intentionally hiding evidence or obstructing investigations into officer misconduct. The bill also requires municipal police officers to wear clearly visible badges during all training sessions. These changes directly affect police officers in Pennsylvania's municipal departments and aim to increase transparency in law enforcement conduct.

HB 2055 requires Pennsylvania police officers to complete a mandatory basic tactical operations course as part of their certification training. The course covers practical skills like safe building entry, team communication during operations, threat identification under stress, and scenario-based training focused on officer safety and lawful force use. This new requirement applies specifically to police officers seeking certification under Pennsylvania's municipal police training rules. Completion of this course becomes a prerequisite for certification, directly affecting all new and existing officers needing to maintain their certification status.