LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Lancaster Township swore in 15 new police officers in a ceremony on Monday, filling the gaps in its brand-new police department.
The officers were hired out of a pool of more than 100 applicants, and all have experience from other departments or from State Police, according to Township officials.
The hirings complete what will be a new police department after Manheim Township declined to renew its contract with Lancaster Township to provide law enforcement protection last year.
"We didn't have any doubts that this day would come," said Township Board of Supervisors member Steve Elliott. "We did have doubts that we'd have enough officers to hire to cover the township."
Township officials say they were pleasantly surprised by the number of applicants for the positions, and that the new department will allow for more streamlined policing of the area.
"Now, we're able to direct the police to do what we feel that they need to do," Elliott said. "If we're having issues with speeding, it's one less hurdle to communicate with Manheim Township about certain issues in certain neighborhoods."
Police Chief Bradley Getz was hired this year after a 25-year career with State Police. He says the new officers were hired based on both their experience and their character.
"From what I've gotten to know from them, they have great integrity," Getz said. "Obviously, I look for a lot of internal character. Just because you're a sworn police officer doesn't mean you're going to be a right fit for this job, and I was looking for those members that have great personalities."
Getz says that after building the new department from scratch, the people of Lancaster Township will reap the rewards.
"The rewarding part will come in the future when we get to see the police service that is being offered to the residents of Lancaster Township," Getz said. "We're going to have almost double the amount of officers out on each shift. I think there'll be a little bit more ownership for the police department, and I think we'll see the most satisfaction from the reaction from the township in the coming months and coming years."
The new department will officially become operational on Jan. 1.