COMMUNITY POLICING

West Chester Police Safety Initiatives in Our Community

The West Chester community has always been supportive of our Police Department through Neighborhood Watches, public awareness campaigns and more. There are several other simple ways to support policing efforts in the community. Adding your name to available Police Department databases help officers investigate crime and keep our neighbors and neighborhoods safe.

Residents with Disabilities

West Chester Police Department maintains a People with Disabilities Database to meet best the needs of all members of our community. This includes individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), etc. Information collected aids and informs first responders who are working to resolve issues in situations involving a person who has a disability.

Security Camera Alliance

Registering your security camera with the West Chester Police Department Camera Alliance does NOT give police direct access to your camera. Rather, signing up lets police know that if investigating a crime in your immediate neighborhood, they can reach out and ask you to check your security video for details that might help. Even if registering your camera, a resident still has the right to decline access to the video.

Unoccupied Home Notice

Heading out of town for vacation? Inform a trusted neighbor or family member of your absence. Arrange to stop mail and newspaper delivery. Complete an Unoccupied Home Notice with West Chester Police and an officer assigned to your area will be aware the residence is unoccupied. This notice does not replace other precautions taken, but does provide information to the West Chester Police Department in the event of an emergency.

Police Chief Herzog Retires

West Chester Police Chief Joel Herzog will retire after 33 years of service to the community.

“The honor of serving as Chief of Police the last nine years for such a wonderful community is humbling,” Chief Herzog shares. “I depart knowing the officers of the West Chester Police Department are strong in their professionalism, integrity, courage, and commitment.”

Chief Herzog was hired as an officer with the West Chester Police Department in 1991, was promoted to captain in 2001 and appointed Chief of Police in 2014. In 2016 he entered into a retire/rehire agreement with the Board of Trustees and continued in his position as Chief.

“Joel is an exceptional law enforcement professional and through his leadership has created a law enforcement model built on police working side-by-side with residents and stakeholders to make our community safer,” said West Chester Township Administrator Larry D. Burks.

In addition to these achievements, Chief Herzog was pivotal in introducing technology to advance crime investigations and worked collectively to advance a robust employee wellness program aimed at destigmatizing mental health treatment.

Chief Herzog anticipates his retirement effective no later than June 29, 2024 providing opportunity to facilitate a smooth transition. He will continue to serve as Chief of Police until his departure and will take this time to support the transition for his department and the larger Township organization.

Administrator Burks will appoint Lt. Col. Brian Rebholz to step into the Chief’s role as interim to fill the gap until a permanent Chief is appointed. Lt. Col. Rebholz first came to work as a West Chester Police Officer in 1992 and was promoted to Assistant Chief in 2016.