Article Summary –
During Mayor Paige Cognetti’s tenure, Scranton has seen a significant reduction in violent and property crimes due to over $5 million invested in police training, recruitment, and technology, including the addition of 51 new police vehicles and plans for a real-time crime center. The Scranton Police Department received its first-ever accreditation for modern policing practices, and the operating budget increased by 22%, reflecting the administration’s commitment to enhancing public safety. Both Cognetti and her opponent, Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan, have garnered support from law enforcement, with Bresnahan securing $500,000 for police technology and equipment, despite his past vote for a law that canceled funding for local police departments.
The number of violent crimes in Scranton has decreased during Mayor Paige Cognetti’s term, with her administration investing over $5 million in police training, recruitment, and technology. In 2019, the year before Cognetti took office, there were 1,199 violent offenses, according to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System. By 2025, this figure dropped to 248, and in 2026, 146 have been recorded.
The FBI defines violent offenses as murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crimes, including burglary and motor vehicle theft, also fell from 1,347 in 2019 to 995 in 2025.
This crime reduction aligns with Cognetti’s investment in local law enforcement. A 2025 article in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader noted 51 new police vehicles with smart technology were added since 2023, increasing the police budget by 22%.
Cognetti is also working to establish a real-time crime center in downtown Scranton to monitor emergencies efficiently. Police Chief Thomas Carroll mentioned the center would enhance response times by tracking public cameras, as reported in the Scranton Times-Tribune.
During her State of the City address, Cognetti praised the police force led by Chief Tom Carroll. She emphasized improved technologies like body cams and the importance of modern policing practices, earning the department its first-ever accreditation by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association in 2025.
Cognetti, running against Republican Rob Bresnahan for the 8th Congressional District, has backing from law enforcement. Former Scranton Police Officer Robert McAndrew endorsed her public safety efforts in a letter in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice.
Bresnahan, who won 50.7% of votes in the 2024 election, also has police support. His campaign secured endorsements from the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association and local Fraternal Order of Police lodges. He announced $500,000 in federal funding for Scranton Police’s technology and equipment.
Bresnahan highlighted public safety as a priority in a press release, emphasizing the need for proper resources. However, in March 2025, he voted for a law that eliminated funding for the Justice Department’s COPS Tech program.
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