West Hempfield Township Police Department

Congratulations Officers!! Job well done!

****Pupdate - Owner has been located***

This guy was found in the area of Mountville Elementary this morning around 9:30am. He’s hanging out with us right now, but if you know who his owners are please call 800-957-2677.

*** UPDATE FROM PENNDOT - Change of date/time for construction **

This closure will NOT happen Tuesday night

NEW DATE: Sunday, June 30th beginning at 5pm!!!!

** NOTICE OF ROAD CLOSURE **

Weather dependent, Prospect Road will be closed the evening of TUESDAY, June 25, from Marietta to Ironville Pike for maintenance/paving at the Fairview Road curve.

ALL trucks, local delivery or not, will be strictly prohibited. Signs and flaggers will be at the top and bottom of Prospect.

Great fundraising event!!

NEWS POST: Lancaster County Law Enforcement Partners with Special Olympics and Funck's Special Olympics Team Lancaster has announced their annual Tip-A-Cop Fundraiser at Funck's Family Restaurant in Leola. The event is Wednesday, June 12, 2024 from 4:00 - 9:00 PM. Law enforcement officers from around the County will take on the...

*** UPDATE: Time to apply has been extended until July 31st at 11:59 PM ***

** CURRENTLY HIRING POLICE OFFICER(s) **

Apply online at PoliceApp.com before the end of June.

Great Pay, Benefits and work schedule!!! You can make a difference in our community!!

We are proud to announce the appointment of our new Chief of Police, Jason Daniel Jay.

Chief Jay has lived in West Hempfield Township for over 17 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Shippensburg University and is a recent graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Command.

Chief Jay leaves his position as Lieutenant with the York City Police Department, where he served with distinction for over 24 years and has received numerous commendations for outstanding criminal investigations and community initiatives.

His knowledge and experience will be a great asset to our department and the community.

Chief Jay was joined by his family, friends and co-workers as he took his Oath of Office and his son proudly pins his new badge!!!

Welcome Chief Jay, we all look forward to working with you!!

Chief Lisa Layden is retiring from policing after 29 years of service to pursue a new career path.

Chief Layden was hired as our chief in April 2019. During her tenure, the department established new policies, embraced technological advances, and created an organizational structure that leads us on a path of professionalism and accountability.

In addition to these achievements, Chief Layden expanded West Hempfield’s commitment to community engagement, and created a Chaplain’s Corp & Peer Support Program to support officer and community wellness.

Chief Layden leaves us to accept a full-time faculty position with York College of Pennsylvania where she will teach in the Criminology/Criminal Justice Department.

She will be here to facilitate a smooth transition with our new Chief.

The Officers, Staff and Township Officials want to Thank Chief Layden for her tenure as our Chief and wish her all the best in her next chapter of life!

** UPDATE - The Roadway has been reopened **

We appreciate those of you who were patient in dealing with this hardship and backlog of traffic as we investigated this tragedy.

While this was an "inconvenience" to your travels and may have set you back an hour or two, a precious life ended today and a family is mourning that loss. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of this young victim.

Unfortunately it takes time to reconstruct and document a fatal crash accurately and we do our best to complete that in the most timely manner possible.

More information will be released when it is appropriate concerning the events of the crash and the identity of the victim.


ROAD CLOSURE

Route 30 Westbound closed at Prospect Road, Route 30 Eastbound closed at Route 441 due to fatal accident. Please avoid this area for the next several hours!!!

***Update: Owner Located.

This happy girl was located near the 800 block of S. 15th Street today. If you know her owner, contact the Police Department at 717-285-5191.

WHTPD is joining our neighboring Lancaster County First Responders in Toys for Tots and their Christmas in July event!

Join us at the Park City Mall on Saturday, July 20th from 10am to 2pm. The event highlights those with autism and developmental needs, but all are welcome.

We have placed a toy box in the station lobby to collect specialty toys for those with autism and developmental needs. The box will be displayed until the 20th so don't delay! (Check out the flyer for more info). Also please check out our amazon list if you can't make it to the event or our station to dropoff items. They can be shipped right to us!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/YV8ZJWSX2L1E?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0KhGu20ir-2SzHO7LUUZiVXIdq8vrpLa1O2MzZtfo4dw2w09-B2Vw6Pq4_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

Captain Ober and Officer Perez are enjoying the afternoon at Mountville Elementary end of year picnic!!

**FOUND PHONE**

If you live in the Bridge Valley Development and recently lost your Iphone - we may have it at our station. The local trash collector found the phone and turned it over to our officers. Contact us to see if it belongs to you. (phone is locked - will need passcode to confirm ownership) 717-285-5191

On May 13, Ofc. Hohman and his “little brother” Kevin, attended a Bigs in Blue field trip to the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, in Hershey.

At the academy, Ofc. Hohman and Kevin were able to meet and speak with Troopers from the Patrol Division, SERT, Bomb Squad, Mounted Patrol, and Aviation Unit.

Bigs in Blue is a mentorship, headed by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region.

The Bigs in Blue program matches West Hempfield Township police officers with students from the Hempfield School District.

** UPDATE**
Dog has been taken to the Columbia Animal Hospital to be cared for and assistance in locating owner

This good boy was found on the Northwest River Trail around 2pm today (5/13). If you recognize him or know the owner please reach out!

Officer Benjamin Johnson named "Officer of the Year"

We want to recognize Ofc. Johnson for his high level of commitment to those he serves and those he serves with.

Ofc Johnson is our department "Crime Scene Technician" and serves on the Lancaster County Forensic Unit. He provides our department and surrounding agencies with invaluable evidence identification, collection and processing expertise.

In addition he has gone above and beyond in developing relationships with local adolescents and young people by serving at the Manos House and has built invaluable connections with the members of our community.

He has embraced our "Ride-a-long" program and helps give interested people a glimpse into the police world.

Ofc. Johnson also serves our own officers by taking the initiative to become our "Peer Support Officer" and being available to aid fellow officers in time of need/crisis. The health and well-being of our officers is of the utmost importance and we thank Ofc. Johnson for his devotion to this initiative.

For all of his actions, we proudly present Ofc. Johnson as our "Officer of the Year"!!

The West Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors, along with Chief Lisa Layden, presented numerous awards and commendations to several police officers and volunteer fire fighters from Columbia Borough Fire Department

Excellence in Criminal Investigations - Ofc. Ruhama Lamure for investigating several felony crimes which resulted with several arrests for Robbery and a residential burglary.

Commendation - Ofc. Darryl Marcus - in March of this year, Ofc. Marcus and his fellow officers responded to a house fire in Mountville Borough. Arriving to find the home engulfed in fire and an adjoining home in danger of igniting - he located a neighbor standing on the roof of her home trying to flee the fire. Ofc. Marcus encouraged her to jump from her roof and caught her as she landed on the ground.

Commendations - Ofc. Geoffrey Hohman, Ofc. Dan Bell (Columbia Borough Police), Fire Chief Scott Ryno, Capt. Justin Misal, Firefighter Jordan Goodman and Firefighter Matt Reifsnyder all of the Columbia Borough Fire Department - In February, these officers and firefighters responded to the Susquehanna River to find a subject who had jumped into the river and was experiencing a mental health crisis. The victim was in jeopardy of drowning and succumbing to hypothermia. These responders did not hesitate to place themselves in danger - working as a team, they rescued this subject from the river and helped to calm him until EMS providers could transport him to a local medical facility for medical help

Excellence in Training Initiative - Ofc. Chris Pfeiffer - being the primary organizer of a Multi-Agency Critical Incident Training which occurred in April. Several months of planning/organizing with 4 police departments, Lancaster County SERT, Lancaster County Radio, 2 EMS agencies and several fire departments worked through a training exercise which included a barricaded subject, armed suspects and an Active Shooter incident.

Outstanding Volunteerism:

Cpl. Richard Bowermaster for his continued involvement with the Beards for Brother's event in November

Ofc. Darryl Marcus - Working with Toy's for Tots each year for their annual Christmas Toy drive, Pink Patch Project and our National Night Out event

Ofc. Geoffrey Hohman and Ofc. Cameron Powers - volunteering for the Bigs in Blue program

Congratulations to all and Thank You for your devoted service to the citizens of West Hempfield Twp and Mountville Borough!!

On Tuesday evening, the West Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors and Chief Lisa Layden officially Promoted Corporal Karl Hartranft to the rank of Sergeant

Sgt. Hartranft has been with our agency since 2004 and has received numerous commendations over the years.

He was officer of the Year in 2009 and 2014. He received the Medal of Valor (2016); Excellence in Criminal Investigations (2012) and played an integral role in helping to establish a professional Field Training Program in 2020 and has helped trained numerous new officers in our agency

Sgt. Hartranft was joined by friends, family and fellow officers as his father officially pinned his Sergeant badge onto this uniform.

Congratulations Sgt. Hartranft

On Tuesday evening, the West Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors adopted a Proclamation in support of National Police Week being the week of May 12th - May 18th, with Police Memorial Day being on May 15th.

From Chief Lisa Layden - Tonight we honor the police officers across Pennsylvania and across the Country and take a moment of silence to honor those killed in the line of duty

This is a time for me, as the Chief of Police, to formally thank my officers and the police agencies and fire fighters that we work with.

As I wrote out these commendations, a theme became clear - TEAMWORK.

Teamwork with the West Hempfield Township Police and teamwork with our neighboring police agencies, fire departments and EMS, all those who come to aid a community member in crisis. We respond together and we depend on each other.

A person becomes an emergency responder because they want to be that person to respond to a crisis, to a dangerous or tragic situation. We do not do it to be a hero, we just feel that call to serve. I am grateful, as a citizen and as the leader of this department, to know that I can depend on you and to see that you not only serve, but step up to be there for each other, to respect and honor each other, and do everything you can as a team, to help the community.

Plan alternate routes if you plan to go anywhere in the Manheim Township area of Rt 30 next weekend!!

https://www.facebook.com/100064732508978/posts/844605674373842/?

Weekend closure planned for parts of 2 busy Susquehanna Valley roads The closure will allow a contractor to demolish a bridge.

Applications needed for 911 Dispatchers!! Are you in need of work? Do you want to serve your community? This is one way you can help!!

** UPDATE **
Puppy was taken to Columbia Animal Hospital to be held for owner or adoption if owner isn’t located. Follow their page for updates

This little guy was found by a resident in the 400 block of Indian Head Rd - if you can help us locate his owner, please call us 1-800-957-2677.**

Rest easy Chief. You’ve served well. We offer our thoughts and prayers to the Susquehanna Regional officers and the family of the Chief. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

NEWS POST: SRPD announces the passing of former Chief Charles "Ed" Haugh The Susquehanna Regional Police Department is saddened to announce that retired Chief Charles "Ed" Haugh has passed away. Chief Haugh began his law enforcement career in 1978 as a patrolman for Wrightsville Borough and also worked as a part-time

To our Mountville Borough residents…. Get your tags at the borough office

Thank You to all the Ladies and Gentlemen who protect each and every one of us from “the other side of the radio”.

We hear you and appreciate you!!!

Did you feel that too?? We sure did! Here’s what USGS reported

Great work by our investigators and assistance from the Lancaster County Crash Team #2

NEWS POST: Lancaster Woman to Spend up to 7 Years in Prison for Involvement in Fatal 2021 A Lancaster city woman will spend an aggravated-range sentence of 3 ½ to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty last Thursday in a negotiated deal to her involvement in a 2021 fatal crash on Route 30 in Mountville that killed 66-year-old and

Located today on Blue Lane near PA 441. If you have any information about her owners, contact the department at (717)285-5191.

** Update - she was transferred to Columbia Animal Hospital - please continue to share **

This sweet girl was found in Southern Lancaster County along River Road. Help spread the word to find her owners.

** OWNER FOUND **

Found near Lancaster Ave and Malleable Road in Columbia. Please help us get him home to his family. Call us if you know the owner 1-800-957-2677