MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF
From the Chief, May 12, 2010
I am thankful to the Hampden Township Board of Commissioners for appointing me to the position of the Chief of Police and to Chief Michael Andreoli for providing me with guidance and opportunities to advance my career in management. Former Chief Fetrow, now a Township Commissioner, afforded me many diverse opportunities in various field assignments during my 31 plus years on the job to allow me to obtain a broad based knowledge on all aspects of police work. I want to assure our residents that this Department will continue to fulfill the obligations we have laid out in our mission statement in providing a safe environment for the Residents and visitors of Hampden Township.
Residents can be proud of the effort Chief Andreoli put into getting this Department accredited. Chief Andreoli was instrumental in bringing specialization into the Department as well. This Department currently has an Officer assigned to the Special Response Team (more commonly thought of as SWAT), two Officers to the county accident reconstruction team, an Officer to the county forensics team, Officers assigned to the county drug task force, and an Officer assigned to the county computer forensics team. This Department also has several members that are certified Child Seat Technicians. By being involved with these various teams, our Officers gain valuable experience handling things that do not occur on a regular basis. Chief Andreoli provided this Department with a modern evidence processing room and a custom equipped vehicle. Since we started using the new facilities and equipment, the Department has had an excellent track record in obtaining information on “the who done it” with DNA and fingerprints. The Department also has instructors in Non-lethal weapons, Firearms, Tasers, First Aid/CPR, Field Training Officers, and Standard Field Sobriety testing. The Department also has a bicycle patrol which allows us to get up close with residents. The Department also has a four man STRIKE team affiliated with the South Central Task Force (Homeland Security). Chief/Commissioner Fetrow must also be recognized as providing a base station at Hampden Township for the first Drug Task Force made up of local Officers and state agents in Pennsylvania. That Task Force was started in 1985 and Chief Andreoli was the first Hampden Township Officer assigned to work with it. Chief Fetrow had me assigned to the first multi-county forensics team, known as the WE team, in 1987. This diverse group attended schooling monthly from 1985-1986 for forensics and was the dream of Ron Fernsler from Swatara Twp PD and Robert Kelly from Harrisburg PD. Both of these unique teams still exist and are very effective although the names have changed. Both of these teams have been the model used throughout the state.
From May 2009 until February 2010, the Department saw the retirement of seven Officers totaling 197 years of experience. Two of those seven were Criminal Investigators for many years. The Department went from 26 Officers to the total complement of 19 including the Chief. The Department has another member who has 30 plus years on the force talking of retirement as early as September. The Board of Commissioners has recently hired five new Officers to bring our numbers up. Three of these Officers will attend the Basic Police Academy at HACC from July 6 to November 18, 2010. Of the other two individuals that were also hired, one is a certified Officer and the other will be graduating the Basic Police Academy in June 2010. All Officers are required to go through a field training phase and a probationary period of one year, excluding the Academy experience. The Department will be made up of nearly two thirds of its Officers with five years or less, of experience. These young Officers have done an outstanding job to date.
The accreditation program is an ongoing process that requires all Department members to meet the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission standards. Proof of compliance is required of each standard and diligence on behalf of the Officer is a must. Residents and visitors to Hampden Township can be assured that the service provided will be done so in a professional manner because the Department is accredited.
I have decided to implement office hours to allow us to use our current resources more efficiently. We have in the past not posted hours, but tried to have an Officer/Investigator on station until 11pm. Hampden Township is one of the last Departments to man the office as late as we have been, but current conditions do not allow us to guarantee an Officer will be on station. By posting and publishing set office hours and having after hours by appointment only, citizens are better informed that an Officer will be on station. Our Investigator will be able complete his investigations and Patrol Officers can be on the street patrolling. We have posted instructions, inside the station, in the event a citizen comes to the station for information or safe haven and an Officer is not here. Residents needing an Officer for non-emergency situations can call 238-9676 to have an Officer respond or to request a phone call from an on duty Officer. Residents or visitors having an emergency will still dial 911. Residents should be aware that you may call us at 761-2609 during business hours but if the nature of the call requires an officer on scene you will be transferred to Cumberland County Communications Center for dispatch. Due to accreditation standards and the records management system used, calls that need to be dispatched will be done by the County system. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Chief Fetrow and Chief Andreoli have set the bar high and I am confident we will continue to provide the service that the Residents have come to expect. If you want to contact me with a complaint or compliment on any issues dealing with the Police Department, please feel free to call me at 761-2609 extension 203 or e-mail me at hclay@hampdentownship.us. Again, I thank the Township for the opportunity to serve as the Chief of Police and you can all be proud of all members of the Police Department, as I know I am.
Respectfully,
Harry K Clay Jr.
Chief of Police