Weaknecht seeking 5th term as Berks sheriff
Republican is first candidate to announce a run for the office
Eric Weaknecht believes he has proved he can do the job, and do it well.
The Lower Heidelberg Township Republican has served as Berks County's sheriff since 2008. And he thinks his accomplishments over the last 15 years speak for themselves.
But, Weaknecht said, there's still more to do. That's why he's asking voters to put him back in office for another term.
Weaknecht has officially announced he is seeking reelection. He is the first candidate to announce a run for the office of county sheriff in 2023.
“As sheriff for the last 15 years, I have led by example serving the citizens of Berks County by professionalizing the hiring process and modernizing law enforcement services,” he said.
Weaknecht said that by partnering with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies his office has been successful at combating violent crime and following through on his promise to keep the community safe.
“I am proud to serve the citizens of Berks as their elected sheriff,” he said.
The 58-year-old points to several changes he has made to the office that he believes have made a big difference.
First on that list was the decision to open a substation in the Reading Regional Airport, its first fulltime satellite office.
The station, in the airport terminal building, offers the same services as the sheriff's department in the Berks County Courthouse. The goal, Weaknecht said, was to give residents a more convenient location to apply for gun permits or respond to a lawsuit. And, he said, the feedback has been overwhelmingly good.
Another item on that list was the decision to update the hiring standards of the office to create opportunities for a greater number of applicants and to ensure the most qualified candidates are hired. These new standards include numerous tests that gauge the physical, psychological and personal abilities of those wanting to work in the office.
And a third item on that list was the decision to establish a K-9 unit.
The department has K-9 officers on the streets every single day, helping his deputies deliver warrants to those wanted on criminal charges. They are also available to other departments within the county when they may need some assistance sniffing out drugs or detecting explosives.
The primary is May 16.