Introduction
The Upper Allen Police Department has a rich history of dedication and service to the community. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a pillar of safety and security, the department has always prioritized the well-being of its residents.
Early Years (1966-1982)
The Upper Allen Police Department was formed on July 1, 1966, by a resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Upper Allen Township. Chief Clyde R. King was hired at a rate of $2.62 an hour and had to supply his own uniform, firearm, and patrol vehicle. In October 1966, two part-time Police Officers were hired at a rate of $1.75 per hour. During the first six months of operation, phone calls that needed to be made by Chief King were often made from the Pennsylvania Turnpike booth at Exit 17, now known as Exit 236.
In December 1966, the Township purchased Walters Roadside Market at 52 Gettysburg Pike, which became the Township and Police headquarters. In September 1967, the first police vehicle was purchased, a 1967 Ford Custom 500 for $2,981.70. In November 1968, a second patrol vehicle was purchased, a 1969 Chevrolet for $2,724.34. In January 1968, Chief King received a twenty-six cent raise, making his hourly rate $2.88 per hour.
In September 1969, Carl K. Hutchison, formerly of Lemoyne Borough Police, was hired as the second full-time Police Officer at a rate of $2.62 and made a Sergeant. In the spring of 1971, Dennis L. McCauslin and Larry L. Shumaker were hired as the third and fourth full-time Police Officers for the Department. The proposed budget for the Upper Allen Police Department in 1971 was $43,750. In June 1972, Police Officer Philip (Ted) Heffelfinger was hired as the fifth Police Officer.
The salaries of the five full-time Police Officers in July 1972 were:
- Chief King – $8,736
- Sgt. Hutchison – $8,008
- Officers McCauslin and Shumaker – $7,156
- Officer Heffelfinger – $6,800
In October 1972, Officer McCauslin was the first Upper Allen Police Officer to graduate from a police academy, the PSP Municipal Academy.
Development and Growth (1982-2011)
By the 1980s, Upper Allen Township was one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the mid-state. The agriculture landscape was becoming suburbia to Harrisburg, York, and Washington DC with the developments of Meadowview, Canterbury, and Peachtree. The Department needed to adapt to meet the needs of an expanding community.
In January 1982, the Upper Allen Police Department moved to 100 Gettysburg Pike, to what was considered a very modern facility. Between 1972 and 1980, the Department became a leader for other departments in Cumberland County. Several undertakings include participation in “Kops-Kids” day at the former Williams Grove Amusement Park, maintaining its own firearms range, operating its own breath-testing equipment, hiring a full-time female Police Officer in June 1977, negotiating a collective bargaining agreement for Police Officers in 1976, and being the first in Cumberland County in 1979 to utilize Excessive Speed Preventer or E.S.P to enforce speed limits in the Township. The last year that part-time Police Officers were employed by the Department was in 1980.
Between 1980 and 1990, the Department continued being a leader in providing law enforcement in Cumberland County. This included modernizing the Records Management System by joining a computerized database known as METRO, using Mobile Video Recorders (MVR) in police vehicles, replacing telescopic antennas on portables with repeater radios, and using cell phones. The Department also assigned a Police Officer full-time to the Tri-County (Cumberland – York – Perry) Drug Task Force. The Department continued to grow with the additional hiring of Police Officers each year from 1986 through 1990.
Modern Era (2011-Present)
In July 2011, the Township completed a $7.9 million municipal campus expansion project. Construction began in March 2010, with the expansion and renovated township building measuring 52,566 square feet. The original township building, constructed in 1981, covered a total square footage of 15,794. The police department now occupies the ground floor of the complex, with dedicated customer parking and a public lobby.
Currently, the Upper Allen Police Department has 26 sworn officers who proudly provide professional police services to over 24,000 residents of Upper Allen Township. The Township covers approximately 13.3 square miles and includes the villages of Grantham, Shepherdstown, and Bowmansdale.
50 Years of Service
In 2016, the Upper Allen Police Department celebrated 50 years of service. This milestone was marked by numerous events and activities that highlighted the department’s achievements and contributions. Notable incidents and key moments from this period include the hiring of fifty-one full-time Police Officers since 1966, and the leadership of three Chiefs of Police: Clyde R. King (July 1966 through August 1987), Richard E. Hammon (August 1987 through January 2003), and James W. Adams (January 2003 to August 2020).
The Department has always conducted business as a community-oriented agency long before it became a cliché. The Department provided NRA-sanctioned Hunter Safety Classes to hundreds of youth in the area, utilized its own program known as “Officer Friendly” which received national recognition, conducted countless “bicycle rodeos” promoting safe biking, and conducted children’s puppet shows at schools, churches, and daycare centers promoting safety activities for the community. Community-oriented policing continues with programs such as S.M.A.R.T.S (Students Making Appropriate Responses to Tough Situations), participation in youth safe driving events, mentoring at-risk students, bike patrols, Halloween candy giveaways by uniformed Police Officers, Citizen Police Academy, business security assessments, senior citizen fraud awareness programs, and career day presentations.
In April 2010, the Department completed its on-site assessment by the assessors of the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC). The unanimous recommendation of certified assessors was for the Upper Allen Police Department to receive full accreditation status. The Upper Allen Police Department became the 68th police department out of over 1,200 police departments in Pennsylvania to be recognized by PLEAC as an accredited agency. Read more here: https://upperallenpolice.com/wp/about-us/accreditation/
By September 2011, the Department moved into its expanded building, which will meet the future needs of the agency. The new Department facilities include an Emergency Operations Center and training room, state-of-the-art evidence facilities, an armory, and interview rooms for victims and suspects.
On June 15, 2016, the Upper Allen Township Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 955 recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Upper Allen Township Police Department. Resolution No. 955 Police Department 50th Anniversary – July 2016
Recent Developments
In recent years, the department has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the community. This includes the adoption of new technologies, enhanced training programs, and a renewed focus on community engagement. The department remains committed to its core values of integrity, professionalism, and service. The Department is proud of its transparency, with information regarding its activities released to the public in many formats, including an up-to-date website, email alerts, and social media presence.
The Upper Allen Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency with experts in drug enforcement, crash investigation, public relations, and criminal investigations. The Department is an established law enforcement leader in central Pennsylvania due to its association with other Criminal Justice service providers. Department members are part of executive boards that deliver policies, training, and direction to the law enforcement community. The ability to network with other law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels allows the Department to continually provide professional services at minimal cost. The Upper Allen Township Police Department is an active member of several associations, including the Cumberland County Chief of Police Association, Central Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, PA Eastern Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates, STOP Domestic Violence Taskforce, Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, Cumberland County Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Conclusion
As the Upper Allen Police Department moves into its next fifty years of service, you can rest assured that the hundreds of years of combined police experience will strive to meet our motto: Nunquam Non Paratus (Never Unprepared).
