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Police Department Promotions
Community residents are fortunate to have such a dedicated staff in the Upper St. Clair Police Department to serve their needs and protect their interests. Five Upper St. Clair police officers were promoted this past July and are recognized below. Lt. Curtis Gallatin, with the USC Left to right are USC Township Manager Matthew Serakowski, Lt. Jonathan Wharton, Lt. Curtis Gallatin, Honorable Judge Michael Fisher, Sgt. Michael Lindenfelser, Sgt. Robert Police Department (USCPD) since McMaster, Sgt. Michael Ventura, and Chief Douglas Burkholder 1979, was hired as a patrolman. Promoted to sergeant in 1992, he served Roche College, and his specialized training includes Computer as acting lieutenant from 2015 to 2017. Lt. Gallatin is also an at- Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA), Taser instructor, Defensive Tactics torney with Holsworth, Sanders and Associates and is a member instructor, Car Seat technician, Field Training officer, and Crisis of the Federal Bar–Western District of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Intervention Training (CIT). He also participates in the South State Bar Association, and Allegheny County Bar Association. Hills DUI Task Force. Lt. Gallatin earned his BA from Indiana University of Sgt. Lindenfelser teaches CHAMPS in local schools. The Pennsylvania, with a double major in criminology and sociology. CHAMPS program, created by the USCPD and the USC School He earned a master’s degree in public administration, with a con- District, is designed to encourage students to make good decicentration in personnel and labor relations from the University of sions and educate them about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Pittsburgh and a law degree from Duquesne University. It also helps develop and maintain positive relationships between His professional police training includes the Allegheny County students and the police. Sgt. Lindenfelser also teaches about cyPolicy Training Academy, DARE Officer Training, Police Executive berbullying and making positive decisions. Development (POLEX) Institute Training and Advanced POLEX, Sgt. Robert McMaster began his career as a dispatcher with through Penn State. In addition, he holds a certification by the the USCPD in 1991, and became a patrolman in 1994. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’ Sgt. McMaster earned his BS in administration of justice from Education and Training Commission as a general instructor and Penn State. His specialized training includes ACTAR vehicle collias a special instructor (Operation of Patrol Vehicle), certification sion investigation, advanced applied physics and thermodynamics in accident reconstruction investigation by the Pennsylvania related to vehicle collisions, Crash Data Retrieval technician Department of Education, Traffic Institute for Police Services. (vehicle “black box” data retrieval), Special Weapons and He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Section 213. Tactics (SWAT), Intoxilyzer technician, Police Supervisor training, Lt. Jonathan Wharton joined the USCPD as a patrolman in homicide and death investigations, and narcotics investigation 1991, when he was 21 years old. Very proud to have grown up in (DEA training). He is also a Taser technician and instructor. this community, he was promoted to sergeant in 2012. Sgt. Michael Ventura worked for the Hanover Township Lt. Wharton’s professional police training includes ACTAR Police Department and Peters Township Police Department before collision reconstruction and Computer Voice Stress Analysis joining USCPD as a patrolman in 2012. (CVSA)/truth verification. He is also a firearms, Taser, baton, and Sgt. Ventura earned his BA in administration of justice from self-defense instructor. the University of Pittsburgh. A graduate of the Allegheny County Lt. Wharton is working toward his master’s degree in criminal Police Training Academy, he teaches the CHAMPS program at justice from the California University of Pennsylvania. He earned Fort Couch and Boyce Middle Schools and St. Louise de Marillac his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh. School. Sgt. Ventura is a certified firearms instructor and armorer. Sgt. Michael Lindenfelser was hired by the USCPD in 2007 He has extensive training in DUI detection and participation in as a dispatcher, and was promoted to patrolman in 2010. He also South Hills DUI task force events. He has also completed nuserved one year with the Wilkinsburg PD. merous drug and crime scene investigation courses, along with Sgt. Lindenfelser earned his BA in criminal justice from La critical incident response training. n
Police Department Welcomes Two New Hires The Upper St. Clair Police Department recently added to the department Patrolman Jonathan Beck and Dispatcher Christine Crouch. Chief of Police Douglas Burkholder welcomed Christine and Jonathan and expressed how impressed he is with their past work experience and believes it will be an asset to the police department. Christine has many years of emergency Jonathan Beck
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2017
communication experience, as she previously worked at the dispatch centers in Mt. Lebanon, the Pittsburgh International Airport, and most recently, the Pennsylvania State Police–Washington Barracks. Jonathan (Jon) joined the department after serving as an officer in the Savannah, Georgia, Police Department and, most recently, the University of Pittsburgh Police Department. He earned his bachelor of arts degree at the University of Pittsburgh. n Christine Crouch