DANVILLE — There are 2,500 deputy sheriffs in Pennsylvania who cannot perform their jobs the way they should, according to Montour County Sheriff Ray Gerringer.

That’s because arrest powers were taken away from sheriffs’ offices in Pennsylvania, he told the Danville Neighborhood Crime Watch Wednesday night.

Deputy sheriffs and sheriffs are trained the same as municipal police officers, he said.

A bill in the state House of Representatives would broaden sheriffs’ powers and Gerringer believes the bill will move forward in early 2010. He testified before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the previous House Bill 466, which would have restored arrest powers to deputy sheriffs.

“It’s not a power struggle,” Gerringer said. “They see it as sheriffs wanting to take their jobs. I have four full-time deputies and five part-time deputies. There is no way I could take over Danville and Mahoning Township nor do I want it. We’re not going to take anybody’s job or ask for more money in the budget.”

Gerringer said state police, the Fraternal Order of Police, the County Commissioners Association, the state troopers association and district attorneys association oppose the bill.

State police have a bill in the Legislature “that could cost taxpayers huge bucks,” he said. For municipalities not covered by a police department, they would have to pay a fee for every resident for state police protection.

“I don’t see that bill getting out of committee because of so much opposition,” Gerringer said. “The Pennsylvania township supervisors association is fighting hard against it.”

Gerringer said his office and the Danville and Mahoning Township police work well together and his office will continue to help those departments.

“We have put some major cases together and had huge success,” he said.

One case involved a drug death resulting in an arrest and spin-offs of about 40 indictments in Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties, Gerringer said, referring to the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force.

When sometimes asked why certain level drug dealers are arrested, he said, “We have to start at the bottom and work our way up.”

Gerringer, who began working in the sheriff’s office in 1978, serves on the executive board of the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association and may become president in three to four years.

“The sheriff protects and serves the public and answers directly to you. It is law enforcement by the people and for the people,” he said.

n E-mail comments to kblackledge@dailyitem.com