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Specialized Units
- Bike Patrol
- Alcohol Source Investigation Project (SIP)
- Bomb Squad
- Motorcycle Patrol
- Neighborhood Enforcement Alcohol Team (NEAT)
- School Resource Officer (SRO)
- Tactical Response Team
- Victim-Centered Intensive Case Management (VCICM)
Bike Patrol
The bicycle patrol originated in 1993. The police department currently has 9 police bikes and 20 bike patrol officers. Officers assigned to bike patrol duties undergo a rigorous 40-hour training course and are IPMBA certified. They attend yearly training that focuses on riding skills and safety.
Officers assigned to bike patrol as weather and staffing permits, are just as approachable as officers on foot patrol; however on bike, officers have the added advantage of being able to quickly respond to calls for service. Members of the community can easily approach bike officers to ask questions, engage in conversations, report crimes, or have their concerns addressed about quality of life issues. In addition, bicycle patrol officers assist in special events such as parades, community festivals, celebrations, and sporting events.
The bicycle patrol enforces bicycle laws downtown, as well as focusing on proactive enforcement of quality of life issues in the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.
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Statement of Problem Dangerous drinking has emerged in recent years as a significant public policy issue and has been revealed to be a major threat to the safety and well being of young people. Often dangerous drinking in university communities involves persons under the age of 21. As universities grappled with the educational, social, and public health implications of dangerous and illegal drinking, it became evident that an environmental approach is needed to impact this issue. A common strategy to reduce dangerous drinking, source investigations and underage drinking is to increase the enforcement of various alcohol laws. State College police officers often encounter large drinking parties attended primarily by university students. During the typical academic year, State College police officers will respond to over 1,500 party complaints received from the public. In addition to the health and safety risks to drinkers, large parties have adversely affected several State College neighborhoods. In areas near campus, it has become increasingly difficult for homeowners and families to endure the litter, vandalism, noise, parking problems, and other side effects of drinking parties. Both those who provide alcohol to minors and those drinking underage have little concern about suffering legal consequences at such parties. Because of manpower limitations and other demands, SCPD must often take an order maintenance approach to large drinking parties, seeking to disperse those involved with a minimal amount of resources, arrests, and paperwork. Enforcement Emphasis SCPD focuses enforcement efforts on the following alcohol crimes:
Target Group and Location | |
Bomb Squad
In 2009, the State College Police Department entered into an agreement with the Penn State University Police Department to assist in staffing the Penn State Bomb Squad. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)-accredited bomb squad is currently staffed by personnel from both agencies and includes Officer M. Jordan Pieniazek from the State College Police Department.
Hazardous Device Technicians assigned to the bomb squad attend six weeks initial training at the FBI Hazardous Devices School, maintain monthly training, and undergo one week of re-certification training every three years. The squad is outfitted with a bomb response vehicle, a robot, several bomb suits, and tools to analyze and render safe suspicious packages, improvised explosive devices, and recovered explosives.
The squad is a listed asset of the South Central Mountains Regional Task Force and assists other police agencies in an eight-county region within the task force. The squad works with the Pennsylvania State Police Bomb Squad, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The squad conducts first responder training and community relations presentations. Since 2009, the squad has responded to an average of 40 calls for service a year, provided security coverage at all Penn State home football games and during visits from dignitaries to include visits from the current and former Presidents of the United States, Presidential Nominees, and various other VIPs.
Motorcycle Patrol
In May 2010, the State College Police Department implemented a motorcycle patrol program by purchasing a Harley-Davidson police motorcycle and training two police officers. Officers are assigned to the motorcycle on a part-time basis with an emphasis on traffic-related issues and policing special events.
The motorcycle enhances the ability to enforce red light, stop sign, and speeding violations by its capability to park in locations inaccessible by a patrol car.
Furthermore, officers maneuver through heavy traffic to respond to emergency calls and save fuel cost, since the motorcycle uses about 1.5 gallons per eight-hour shift compared to 7.5 gallons in a patrol car. In addition, officers have increased positive personal contact with the public.
NEAT
The NEAT program, piloted in 2010, involves two State College police officers permanently assigned to the Highlands neighborhood on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to focus on nuisance crimes such as noise, criminal mischief, public urination, furnishing alcohol to minors, underage drinking, public drunkenness, and open container violations.
NEAT is designed as a highly visible, proactive, assertive, and consistent enforcement program in an effort to improve the quality of life in the assigned neighborhood. NEAT also conducts pre-party contacts during the early evening hours and works in conjunction with the Neighborhood Safety Enhancement Program (NSEP) student auxiliary staff and with the joint the State College Police Department/Penn State University Police Department Source Investigation Program (SIP) when they are assigned. In 2011, NEAT will include two Penn State police officers and will be expanded to the Holmes-Foster neighborhood.
School Resource Officer
The SRO provides a safe and secure environment for students and staff and acts as a liaison between the police department and the school district. The SRO works closely with school administrators, school security officers, juvenile probation, and other agencies such as Children and Youth Services and the Youth Service Bureau.
Besides school security and law enforcement duties, the SRO frequently speaks to classes on such topics as drug and alcohol abuse, date rape, sexual assault, internet safety, driver's safety, and juvenile justice. The SRO also provides presentations to faculty and staff during high school in-service training, and to parents attending back-to-school events. The police department's juvenile detective works very closely with the SRO.
Tactical Response Team
The CCTRT completed 19 training days in 2010. Each training day was designed to emphasize 3 areas of proficiency when trained individually or as a whole to form the foundation for a comprehensive tactical team training program. The 3 areas include critical drills and tasks, search and entry tactics, and tactical precision marksmanship.
In 2010, several events involved team members individually, in part, or as a whole: tactical over-watch for the Eastern European Organized Crime Task Force, barricaded gunman in Lemont, barricaded gunman in Patton Township, dignitary protection detail for Vice President Biden, high-risk warrant service in Patton Township, and 51 warrants for possession with intent to distribute.
Victim Centered Intensive Case Management (VCICM)
VCICM Unit
State College Police Department
243 South Allen Street
State College, PA 16801
(814) 272-4148
| The Field/Legal Advocate is employed by the Centre County Women’s Resource Center, Centre County’s local domestic violence agency, therefore, any communications between the victim and the Advocate are protected by strict standards of confidentiality. The Detective and Advocate initially respond together in an integrated approach in order to provide immediate services to victims when they are most in need of those services. After the initial response, the Advocate is available to the victim to assist with obtaining Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders, developing safety plans, court accompaniment, and other victim services. The Detective is able to coordinate and assist with follow-up investigations, aid victims in accessing services available through the criminal justice system, and assist with criminal case preparation and expert testimony for prosecution. The Project Technician reviews and triages all incoming cases and PFA orders, conducts case analysis and research, and maintains comprehensive records to track domestic violence offenders. | |
| Intensive training is provided by the Unit to area law enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, and other service providers, thereby strengthening the law enforcement response and facilitating a more effective prosecution of offenders. In addition, the Unit provides community outreach and education in order to raise the level of public awareness concerning the crimes of domestic abuse and domestic stalking. The VCICM Unit is the only agency in the state of Pennsylvania to employ this innovative concept of intense collaboration between law enforcement and victim services. In addition, the Unit has worked to foster a close working relationship with the District Attorney’s office, the Centre County Women’s Resource Center, and other agencies regarding issues of domestic violence, creating a more efficient and effective process for combating domestic abuse and assisting victims. With the inception of the VCICM Unit, great strides are being made in the handling of domestic abuse and domestic stalking in Centre County. The unified response and intensive monitoring of domestic violence cases has led to victims being better served and protected, and offenders being held accountable for their actions. Intervention is the first step in breaking the cycle of domestic violence. The VCICM Unit is committed to providing that intervention. Please browse our website for further information on the crimes of domestic violence and stalking, and learn what services are available in Centre County. For further information please contact: |