Lancaster Township's new police department has been up and running a bit more than a week. 

So far, so good, according to Chief Bradley Getz and Township Manager Bill Laudien.

“I couldn't be happier after the first week — no major pitfalls, and it's been a success, in my opinion, so far,” Getz said Wednesday.

Getz said officers are providing feedback and none regrets leaving their former jobs to join a from-scratch department.

Laudien said he’s “excited at how quickly the officers have made themselves part of the community, and by how they’ve been received by the community. We all have a chance to do this well and to do this a little differently, and the officers have embraced that opportunity.”

The department’s first arrest was for a DUI on New Year’s Eve, the result of a traffic stop.

Not counting traffic stops, the department handled about 100 calls for service in its first full week, Getz said. Calls included false alarms, a simple assault, domestic disturbances, DUIs, retail thefts and warrant arrests.

Township officials agreed to create a new department in 2023 after Manheim Township voted against extending its contract to provide police services to Lancaster Township, citing increasing costs. 

The department consists of Getz, four corporals, a detective and 10 officers; it will provide round-the-clock coverage for the township, which has a population of about 18,700. With 12-hour shifts and overlapping scheduling, Getz said four officers will be on duty for large parts of the day.

Staffing was developed with input from Manheim Township officers, many of whom said more than two officers were needed per shift, Getz said. 

Manheim Township police also worked on Dec. 31 in case there were any problems, but things went smoothly, Getz said.

“The little hiccups in the road have been more technical. Police work has gotten so technical over the last 10 years,” Getz said, mentioning the need for consistent internet connectivity, along with coordination between the county’s dispatch system and the department’s records management system. 

Getz said he’s working on setting up a CrimeWatch website, which other county departments use to put out arrest and other information. Also in the works are a Facebook page and a police section on the township’s homepage. Those efforts will include ways for people to submit tips anonymously.

“You know, 18,000 eyes are a lot better than 15 eyes,” Getz said.

Getz expects community outreach efforts to happen in the spring.

“I want to focus some more attention to community outreach, partnering with stakeholders in the community to get some better insight on the needs of (the community) because a lot of times, they can fill you in on really what's going on here than anyone else,” Getz said.

Since Getz was hired last July; his focus has been on writing regulations, ensuring training on the department’s record management and crash reporting systems, ensuring officers met firearms qualifications and getting officers and the department state certified as well as buying guns, patrol vehicles and uniforms.

Getz said he’s looking forward to getting to know the community and the officers recruited for the new department — something he couldn’t do as much as he wanted when he was with the Pennsylvania State Police.

As a station commander in Lehigh County, he oversaw 55 troopers serving eight municipalities. Later as a troop commander, he oversaw about 300 troopers.

Though Getz was not required to live in Lancaster Township or the county when he accepted the job, he said he and his wife are thinking about moving here, though that wouldn’t be immediately because his youngest child is senior in high school. His other child is enrolled at Millersville University.

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