Departments

Emergency Services

Security Division

MISSION:

It is the mission of the County of Bucks, Emergency Services, Security Division to deliver professional, effective services, fairly and ethically, at all times, to all people, in order to prevent crime, control crime and enhance the overall quality of work and life for all county employees and visitors on all County Properties and Buildings.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

In order to complete our Mission the Bucks County Emergency Services – Security Division consists of approximately 25 armed Sworn Peace Officers with Act 235 certification. This Department is responsible for providing protection for all county owned or leased property and equipment as well as providing protection to all county employees and visitors utilizing County of Bucks facilities. This Department has officers assigned at the following locations but not limited to:

• Bucks County Courthouse/ Administrative complex
• Domestic Relations Building, Doylestown and Bristol
• Lower Bucks Government Services Center
• Neshaminy Manor complex
• Children and Youth Social Services Building

The Bucks County Emergency Services – Security Division is staffed with a Director, Assistant to the Director, two Sergeants and 23 officers.  All Sergeants and officers are armed sworn peace officers.  There are 15 per diem security screeners that are assigned to the Courthouse and the Domestic Relations Department in Doylestown, PA.  The Department is a 24 hour per day, 365 day per year Department. We put up to 600,000 visitors thru the Courthouse complex each year. Persons entering the Main Court and Administrative Building at 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA or any Domestic Relations Section must go through a security screening process.

The screening involves the individual passing through a metal detector and having any package parcel, hand bag, belt, or other container put through an x-ray machine.  No firearms or weapons of any kind are allowed to be brought into these buildings.  A clearly posted sign at each entrance of the respective buildings warns people about to enter that they are subject to search and defines the more common weapons.  Some common items that are not allowed in the controlled access buildings are firearms of any type, knives, scissors, razors, tools, explosives, many pointed objects and any item which is considered illegal or contraband by separate stature. 

In way of explanation; all knives such as the little inch and half pocket knives or fingernail knives or novelty knives are considered knives for this purpose and are not allowed in the building.  Scissors are considered weapons even if they are cuticle scissors, sewing scissors, hair cutting scissors or utility scissors.

The Bucks County Emergency Services – Security Division does not hold disallowed items.  Persons who are in possession of any disallowed items will be asked to return them to their vehicles or they must surrender and forfeit the item.

All Uniformed Officers are required to qualify annually with their firearms in accordance with MPOECT standards. Our Department has three certified NRA Law Enforcement instructors, one certified Taser instructor and two certified ASP baton, Handcuffing and Self Defense instructors.
All Officers continue their training through in service training, as well as courses offered by the Deputy Sheriff Association of Pennsylvania, Bucks County Police Training Center and The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

In addition to staffing the security screening stations the Department also patrols on foot, bike and vehicle, all interior and exterior County buildings and grounds; make arrests on violations of County of Bucks ordinances and the statues of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; provide financial escorts and maintains order and discipline in all county buildings.  The Department provides Emergency Medical care for all medical problems that occur within our jurisdiction. All Officers are required to be certified in C.P.R., First Aid and the use of an A.E.D. Several officers have been First Responder certified.