Sheriff’s Office earns fifth PLEAC accreditation; EMS leaders warn of staffing strains and growing call volume

Montgomery County officials recognized the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for receiving its fifth Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission accreditation and heard presentations marking EMS Week that highlighted strains on the county’s emergency‑medical services system.

Chief Lee Benson and sheriff’s accreditation staff accepted the PLEAC accreditation on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office. County and sheriff’s staff said the accreditation reflects a multi‑year review of policies and practices covering organization, use‑of‑force and evidence control. Lieutenant Stewart, the sheriff’s accreditation manager, told the Board that reaccreditation requires meeting dozens of standards with multiple underlying required practices.

Separately, county EMS leaders described operational pressures facing emergency medical services. Brian Kuklinski, executive director of Lower Providence Ambulance and president of the Montgomery County EMS Council, and Ken Davidson, assistant chief of Second Caln‑Area Rescue Squad and Ambulance Association board member, told the commissioners that Montgomery County currently has nearly 2,000 licensed EMS providers and that in February 2024 the county recorded about 91,000 EMS dispatches (roughly 250 calls per day, or 10 calls per hour).

Speakers said EMS agencies face an aging workforce, recruitment and retention challenges, increasing costs, and uneven municipal support. They warned that without sustainable funding and planning, response times could rise further; the presenters cited examples in other counties where response times have increased to 30 or 40 minutes for serious emergencies.

Both presenters praised the county’s decision to study EMS system options and to engage municipal leaders; they urged the county to work with municipalities, regional partners and state associations to identify stable funding and structural reforms. Speakers suggested a range of possible futures for EMS in the county, from consolidation of some agencies to creation of regional authorities while supporting stand‑alone volunteer organizations where feasible.

Commissioners thanked presenters and acknowledged the county’s ongoing EMS study and earlier steps to convene municipal leaders. The sheriff’s accreditation presentation and EMS proclamations were ceremonial recognitions rather than votes; commissioners and staff said they would follow up on the EMS study’s recommendations and on funding options for sustaining local ambulance services.