The Upper Allen Police Department is pleased to announce its partnership with the Mechanicsburg Area School District (MASD) and BusPatrol to implement a new school bus safety program aimed at protecting students. This initiative aligns with Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code § 3345 concerning school bus stopping laws.

Program Launch Date: Monday, May 5, 2025

What This Means for Our Community:

Starting May 5th, all school buses serving the Mechanicsburg Area School District will be equipped with advanced safety technology, including stop-arm photo enforcement cameras. These automated cameras are designed to capture images of vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing.

How It Works:

• Detection: Cameras automatically detect vehicles passing stopped school buses illegally.
• Review: Footage of potential violations is securely transmitted to the Upper Allen Police Department for review.
• Verification: Our officers will carefully review the evidence to determine if a violation occurred according to state law.
• Notification: If a violation is confirmed, BusPatrol will mail a notice of violation to the registered owner of the vehicle involved.

Why This Program is Important:

Student safety is a shared top priority for the Upper Allen Police Department and the Mechanicsburg Area School District. Illegally passing a stopped school bus puts children at serious risk. Data, including reports from Pennsylvania’s Operation Safe Stop, indicates that illegal passing incidents occur frequently across the state, and our local community is no exception. This program utilizes technology to enforce critical safety laws and deter dangerous driving behavior around school buses, ultimately making the journey to and from school safer for all students.

Learn More:

• Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law: For detailed information on driver responsibilities and penalties, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/school-bus-drivers/school-bus-safety.html. You can also view an informational graphic from PennDOT here: https://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DVSPubsForms/BDL/BDL%20Publications/Pub%2097.pdf
• MASD Program Details: More information about this specific initiative will be available on the MASD Transportation Department website: https://www.mbgsd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=838760&type=d&pREC_ID=2665518

The Upper Allen Police Department is committed to working with our community partners to ensure the safety of our youngest residents. We urge all drivers to remain vigilant, be aware of school buses, and always stop when required. Thank you for helping us keep our children safe.

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On Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 3:26 PM, Upper Allen Police responded to a crash on US Route 15 North at mile marker 37.2. An investigation revealed that the pictured pickup truck rear-ended another vehicle while approaching an area of traffic congestion. The male driver sustained a minor injury. The pickup was towed from the scene.

The Upper Allen Police Department were assisted on the scene by the Upper Allen Fire Department and Penn State Health Life Lion EMS.

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On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 4:33 PM, Upper Allen Police were dispatched to a crash on US Route 15 North at mile marker 36.1. An investigation revealed that a driver failed to ensure they could safely change lanes prior to attempting a lane change. The driver’s actions resulted in a crash. The driver sustained an injury to their face during the crash. As a result of the crash, one vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

The Upper Allen Police were assisted on the scene by the Pennsylvania State Police, Upper Allen Fire Department, and Penn State Health Life Lion EMS.

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Arrested:
Marquia Jeffers, 40
1100 block 2nd St
Enola, PA 17025

Charges:
Strangulation
Simple Assault
Harassment

On March 12, 2025, Upper Allen Police were dispatched for an active assault. Upon arrival, an investigation determined that Jeffers had strangled the victim and punched her in the face. Evidence of bodily injury was apparent and Jeffers was charged with the aforementioned offenses. On April 24, 2025, a preliminary hearing was held where Jeffers plead guilty to a lesser offense.

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4/14/2025 at 8:20 PM — UPDATE —
The missing juveniles have been located safe.
Thanks your assistance and social media shares!
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Missing:
Addie L. Dupert
12 years old
Last seen wearing a red shirt, black leggings, and black ball cap

Missing:
Danielle L. Rhodes
11 years old
Last seen wearing a black shirt and black leggings

Upper Allen Township Police are actively searching for Addie Dupert and Danielle Rhodes. They were last seen walking away from the Mechanicsburg Middle School today at approximately 3:30 PM. They were walking in a direction away from their homes, and they have not been heard or scene from since. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the Upper Allen Township Police Department at 717-795-2445. Anonymous tips can be submitted online at: https://upperallenpolice.com.