Crimefighting takes a step forward in late December in Lycoming County, when a central processing center opens at the Old Lycoming Township Police Department.
The Lycoming County Commissioners have approved hiring two part-time officers to operate the center, which will be used as a clearinghouse. The center will allow on-site officers to digitally photograph and fingerprint those who have committed misdemeanor crimes.
Once that's done, officers can move quickly on to the next call.
It sounds like a small thing, but it's really a big thing.
The officers are being paid to protect our communities. They can't do that if they are spending all their time on processing and paperwork.
The center will allow them to spend more time patrolling and less time doing clerical work.
The two part-time officers will keep the processing center in operation three to four hours a day. Hopefully, the center's track record will bring additional resources that will allow expansion of hours in the future.
