Fox Chapel, PA – As part of the Pennsylvania State Police's (PSP) Building Bridges initiative, PSP hosted an interactive town hall, allowing the community to ask questions, express opinions, share ideas, and learn more about the state police. This conversation is part of the Shapiro Administration’s continued commitment to building strong relationships between law enforcement and the people they serve across the Commonwealth.
As part of Wednesday night’s discussion at the Cooper-Siegel Community Library, PSP Trooper Joseph B. Dunsmore presented his Building Bridges Community Outreach Program (BBCOP), which strived to improve police-community relations and the public’s perceptions of law enforcement through education and open dialogue.
A key part of maintaining public safety is developing positive relationships with the communities we serve through trust, communication, and education,” said Trooper Joseph B. Dunsmore of the Pennsylvania State Police Office of Community Engagement and creator of the BBCOP. “Our program provides a platform for people of all ages to ask questions and voice opinions, while learning about how and why PSP does its job in an effort to dispel popular misconceptions, address concerns, and connect with the public.”
Trooper Dunsmore provided participants with information on a variety of critical topics, including PSP policies, use of police force, qualified immunity, traffic stops, and constitutional rights, while answering questions from the audience.
Trooper Dunsmore is well-versed in First Amendment rights,” said state Rep. Steele, D-Allegheny. “We have active, civically engaged residents who were grateful for his presentation. I appreciated him taking the time to connect with people in our communities. ”
Trooper Dunsmore has delivered his presentation to several colleges, high schools, and community centers across Pennsylvania since its launch in 2021. Penn State Altoona released research in 2024 showing participation in the BBCOP was associated with empirical gains in perceptions of police, further illustrating the program’s effectiveness in improving police-community relationships.
Since taking office, Governor Josh Shapiro has made it a priority to build strong relationships between communities and law enforcement through balanced investments in policing and community-led initiatives that help bolster public safety across the Commonwealth.
The governor has secured funding for nearly 2,000 additional police officers on the beat and expanded afterschool and community-based violence intervention programs. These efforts are delivering results: violent crime is down 12 percent statewide, and fatal gun violence has dropped 42 percent, helping communities across Pennsylvania feel safer and more secure.
Governor Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget proposal continues to support PSP’s mission to protect the safety of Pennsylvania communities by investing $16.2 million in four additional cadet classes, approximately 380 troopers, and by calling for the complete elimination of the current statutory cap, which limits the number of troopers PSP can hire.
Those interested in having Trooper Dunsmore present his BBCOP to them can contact him at ra-spoce@pa.gov.
For more information about the Pennsylvania State Police, visit the PSP website.