Manheim Township -

The Manheim Township Police Department is a community police organization that cares about people and is committed to promoting Manheim Township and East Petersburg Borough as quality places. The Police Department provides a wide variety of services to the residents of the Township as well as the residents of the Borough of East Petersburg under the provisions of an Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement. The Police Department patrols the 23.88 square miles of the Township and 2.0 square miles of the Borough. In2004,

the Department answered within the Township and Borough, approximately 18,750 calls, complaints or requests for service.

During the 1950's, the Manheim Township Police Station was located at 100 Buch Avenue. The Police Department consisted of one full time Chief, three officers and one police car. In 1957, a second police car was placed into service. The police cars originally had no radio equipment in them until 1957, when mobile radio telephones were installed in the cars and citizens called the police directly in the police cars, paying thirty cents for each telephone call made.

In 1960, the Township moved its Municipal Building and the Police Station to a large home at 1500 Lititz Pike. It was purchased at a public auction and the two car garage was converted into a police station with three offices and a cell room.

In 1973, a new Municipal Building with the Police Station included was constructed on Municipal Drive. The total building area was 11,212 square feet. There were 33 sworn officers and 2 civilian employees. In 1975, we began contract policing of East Petersburg Borough, which initially added three additional officers to the department.

In 1985, an addition was completed which almost doubled the police station portion of the building from its original size of 4,262 square feet. There were 33 sworn officers and 9 civilian employees.

In 1990, the Township Municipal Offices moved from the original building into its own building across the street, giving the police additional space. There were 43 sworn officers and 13 civilian employees.

Today, after another addition and renovations to some portions of the original building, the square footage of the police station increased to 22,500 square feet from 4,262 square feet. The department consist of 54 sworn officers and 18 civilian employees. We have gone from 1 car to a fleet of 32 and serve a population estimated at 33,697 Township residents and 4,450 East Petersburg residents.

Township Motto - A Healthy Community

The Manheim Township Police Department consists of 54 sworn police officers, 18 full-time civilian employees, and 3 part-time crossing guards headed by Chief of Police, Neil J. Harkins. Under the office of the Chief of Police, the Department is organized into four divisions:

Lieutenant Wayne M. Wagner Jr. commands the Patrol Division. It is composed of an Administrative Sergeant, a Patrol Section with four platoons of uniformed officers, each supervised by a Sergeant and a Patrol Support Section. The Patrol Support Section consists of a fifth platoon, a School Crossing Guard Unit, a Park Guard Unit and Fire Police Units.

Lieutenant Douglas K. Sing commands the Special Operations Division. It is composed of an Investigative Section and a Special Services Section (DARE Program, Evidence Property, & Court Liaison, Crime Prevention Coordination, Youth Liaison, and Domestic Violence Advocate).

The Support Services Division is commanded by Lieutenant Dwight L. Rager. It is composed of Computer, Field and Office, and Equipment Inventory/Maintenance Sections.

The Administrative Support Division is supervised by a Manager, Mrs. Dianna L. Diem, and is composed of a Records and a Front Desk Section.

Specialized Equipment

The Police Department has some specialized equipment to assist in the delivery of services to the community. Two such units are:

The Mobile Operations Unit was purchased to allow the Police Department the flexibility of having a compact mobile operations unit as well as a mobile crime scene-processing unit. Successful and productive use of it at accident and crime scenes both show that it will be an important part of the Department’s ability to provide quality service to the residents of the Borough and Township.

The department uses portable scales to weigh trucks as part of our commercial vehicle enforcement details.

The Police Department teaches the DARE curriculum to all elementary schools in Manheim Township and East Petersburg. A Middle school program is also taught in the 7th grade at the Township Middle School. Currently we have two DARE instructors, Officer Dan Jerchau and Officer Natalie Littlehale. The instructors wear their uniforms in the classroom and have been certified by DARE to teach the curriculum. DARE is a cooperative effort that includes the police, schools, parents and our community to provide children with necessary life skills. Because this is a cooperative effort, the class teacher is always in the classroom with the DARE instructor.

The elementary program consists of visitation classes to all students in kindergarten through 4th grade. Lessons include:

Fifth graders participate in a ten week program that provides accurate information about drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The following outlines the 5th grade lessons:

Students are introduced to the D.A.R.E. program and the D.A.R.E. Decision-making Model. Students practice skills used in decision-making and reflect on their learning in their D.A.R.E. Planner.

This lesson focuses on normative beliefs about the use of tobacco by youth. Tobacco facts are used to design tobacco-warning labels, which are shared with the class. Journal entries reflect the learning.

Students apply tobacco and marijuana facts in a variety of situations using the D.A.R.E. Decision-making Model. Students are introduced to the purpose of advertising. Journal entries reinforce discussions of the affects tobacco has on the body.

Students work through a normative belief activity about the use of alcohol by youth. Decision-making skills are reinforced as students work together solving a variety of situations. Student journal entries in D.A.RE. Planners reinforce skills.

Students are given the opportunity to examine alcohol ads in their environment and apply their learning in a relay race. Inhalants and their danger are examined. Journaling processes the new learning.

LESSON #6: Friendship Foundations

In teams, students examine friendship and peer pressure in situational dilemmas using the D.A.R.E. Decision-making Model. Journal entries in D.A.R.E. Planner reinforce new learning.

Students work with partners to apply assertiveness skills in a think/pair/share methodology. D.A.R.E. Planner journaling is used to process new skills.

Student teams practice decision-making skills as they examine the role of personal peer pressure in their lives. Students review their D.A.R.E. Planner entries to assist in creating a personal D.A.R.E. report.

Students have the opportunity to apply assertive refusal skills along with facts in a spiraling competition. Personal affirmations about healthy choices are shared from D.A.R.E. reports.

The DARE officers utilize interactive instruction and role playing in many of their lessons and how to use what they learn in real life. In Manheim Township, seventh grade students also participate in a ten week curriculum that builds on the skills learned in fifth grade.

All students are given planners in which they take notes and write what they have learned. Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about the DARE program and ask to see their planner. Remember that the three cooperating groups teaching these life skills to students are police, schools, and parents. Parents are invited to contact their child’s DARE officer for more information regarding the DARE program or if they have any questions. Contact Officer Dan Jerchau at 569-6401 extension 522 or Officer Natalie Littlehale at extension 545. Parents are also encouraged to visit the DARE website which contains information on the program, check our “Links” section.

The Youth Aid Panel program in Manheim Township and East Petersburg began in 1993 as an alternative program for dealing with youthful first-time offenders. After admitting guilt and being approved for the program, the youth is handled outside the juvenile court system by the panel. The juvenile case is reviewed by the assigned panel, the offender and his/her parents. The panel provides a means to increase the accountability and responsibility of youths for their actions, while satisfying the victim of the youth’s delinquent actions. Currently there are approximately 34 volunteers comprising 4 panels. For more information on the Youth Aid Panel program contact Detective Robert Beck at 569-6401 extension 413.

The Heartwood Program was initiated in Pittsburgh when a criminal defense attorney found himself representing younger and younger juveniles who lack the most fundamental sense of right and wrong. Based on the belief that the problem had to be addressed long before the children landed in court, she joined forces with several educators and developed this program. In Manheim Township, the Heartwood Program is led by certified teachers. There is no fee for this service.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

Police officer applicants are required to first take a civil service test for placement on an eligibility list. An eligibility list is good for one year after a test is given. The top three candidates from the eligibility list are considered for each police officer vacancy after a background investigation, polygraph examination and interviews by a selection board.

Drug, physical and psychological tests are required before appointment. Civilian positions are filled as needed. For information about when the next test will be given or if civilian positions are open, contact the Police Department by mail at 1825 Municipal Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601, or call (717) 569-6401or e-mail at police@manheimtownship.org.

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Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush announced the creation of the USA Freedom Corps, an effort to foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility, building on the generous spirit of the American people. The Citizen Corps programs are part of the USA Freedom Corps initiative and share the common goal of helping communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to crime, natural disasters, and other emergencies.

One of the Citizen Corps programs is the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) manages and implements the VIPS Program in partnership with and on behalf of the White House Office of the USA Freedom Corps and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice. The program's goal is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers.

The foundation of this national initiative to help state and local law enforcement agencies is http://www.policevolunteers.org/. The website serves as a gateway to information for law enforcement agencies and citizens interested in law enforcement volunteer programs.

The Manheim Township Police Department is expanding and consolidating its volunteer program under VIPS and is looking for motivated volunteers (non-paid) from Manheim Township to serve as Director, Police Volunteers - Manheim Township and from East Petersburg to serve as Director, Police Volunteers-East Petersburg. These individuals will initially assist in the continued development of the volunteer program for the police department. Training for this position will be provided. This program will result in responsibilities for recruiting, selecting, and training volunteers for various positions; maintaining records for volunteers; developing and maintaining the volunteer handbook, which will outline expectations, polices, and responsibilities for all volunteers; maintaining a record of volunteer schedules and work hours; completion and dissemination of paperwork; and planning periodic recognition events. If you are interested and want to answer the call to serve your community, please contact Sergeant Thomas Rudzinski at 569-6401, extension 462.

The Manheim Township Community Life Task Force is a coalition of citizens and representatives of various Township organizations whose mission is “To identify issues, concerns or problems affecting the quality of life within Manheim Township and then to assist in achieving a positive impact on items identified through communication, cooperation and mutual support”. Organizations that participate are the Police Department, School District, Student Council, Ministerium, several service clubs, and other social service organizations. CLTF’s current president is Larry Miller and the secretary is Tom Oblender.

Some of the CLTF’s initiatives include a domestic violence education campaign, highway safety program during the Route 30 construction project, improved Township media communications, coordinated the Township’s 275th anniversary celebration. Our current initiative is Combating Drug and Alcohol Abuse in our Community. After reviewing data from the School District and the Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission we saw a need within Manheim Township to enhance drug and alcohol education to the community. If your group or organization has need of a speaker on this topic send us an e-mail or call us at the number below.

The Community Life Task Force meets at 7PM on the first Thursday of the month from September through June at the Manheim Township Police Department . For more information contact us at 569-6401 extension 705 or comlifetaskfrce@manheimtownship.org.

LICENSES/PERMITS

Any person engaged in or carrying out the business of massage is required to have a massage business license, valid for one year. Certain professionals such as physicians, surgeons, chiropractors, nurses and physical therapists are exempt from licensing.

All persons and businesses using a burglary, panic or robbery alarm system are required to have an alarm permit, which is valid for up to three years.

It is unlawful for any person to exercise or carry on trade or business without first obtaining a license, valid for one year, from the Township and adhering to certain regulations governing these businesses.

A solicitor’s license, good for 180 days, is required to solicit funds, peddle, canvas or take orders either by sample or otherwise, for any goods, wares, or merchandise, upon any street, sidewalk or public place, or from house to house. Exempt are farmers selling their own products; charitable purposes; registered charitable organizations, national or international service organizations existing for the benefit of youth, aged, handicapped or underprivileged; dealers of bakery, meat, or dairy products; insurance, real estate and brokers; persons hanging advertisements on doors with no attempt to contact the resident.

If you have questions or need more information on items such as licenses/permits, please contact the Police Department by mail at 1825 Municipal Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601, or call (717) 569-6401or e-mail at police@manheimtownship.org.
Note: When using this link, please help us in assisting you by providing your name, address, and telephone number.