The Township of Derry Police Department Patrol Section is comprised of three six officer platoons, each under the direction of a Patrol Sergeant. The Patrol Section is the front line of the Department. The function of the Patrol Section is primary response to all reports of crime and requests for service within the Township. Proactive patrol activities include traffic and criminal statute enforcement, as well as crime prevention through high visibility patrol. In addition civilian Community Service Officers, supplement the Patrol Section by assisting in traffic direction, handling animal calls, enforcing minor township ordinance violations and parking violations.

Traffic Enforcement

Utilizing both marked and unmarked patrol vehicles, the Township of Derry Police Department places a high priority on enforcement of traffic laws. Patrol vehicles are equipped with VASCAR-Plus units or Accutrak Speed Timing Devices for use in speed enforcement. Currently, Municipal Police Departments are not authorized to use RADAR or LIDAR equipment for speed enforcement.

Officers enforce summary traffic laws through the use of citations and warning forms. Many officers have additional training in the enforcement of commercial vehicle regulations, including routine inspection checks of oversize vehicles and modular housing units.

Three of Pennsylvania's major highways, SR0322, SR0422 and SR0039, converge within Derry Township. As an unfortunate result, traffic accidents occur. Patrol Section officers respond to and investigate these accidents. Within the Patrol Section, there are many officers with advanced accident investigation education, including five accident reconstruction specialists.

Driving Under the Influence incidents continue to rise each year and officers remain vigilant in the enforcement of the DUI law. To that end, many of the patrol officers are trained in the use of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. Pennsylvania case law on DUI cases changes frequently and our officers continue to keep pace with the changes in order to prosecute this crime effectively and within constitutional boundaries.

Criminal Enforcement

Patrol officers enforce criminal law from both the proactive and reactive function. Several officers are trained in drug interdiction and recognition to assist the K-9 officers and detectives.

The Patrol Section is responsible for nearly every domestic violence prosecution. Domestic violence incidents present a special hazard for Police Officers, as each year assaults on officers responding to these calls increase. In addition to arresting abusers, patrol officers are responsible for referring domestic violence victims to counseling and legal services.

A majority of the arrests made by the Township of Derry Police Department are initially investigated by the patrol section officers. Only the most serious crimes or those cases requiring extensive follow up are referred to Criminal Investigation Section Detectives. Patrol officers routinely handle drunk and disorderly persons, shoplifters, theft of service calls, fight calls, trespassers, and juvenile violators, clearing these calls within a few minutes or hours.

Service Calls

Officers in the patrol section devote many hours to providing service to members of the community. Some of the more frequent services rendered are burglar alarm response, selective patrol of targeted trouble spots in the community, business checks, traffic control for special events, and assistance to the Emergency Medical and Fire Services

Patrol officers are summoned to handle requests for service from residents, which require that the officers be well-versed in a variety of life experiences. These types of calls include, but are never limited to, suspicious persons, neighborhood disputes, landlord/tenant problems, non-violent domestic problems, custody issues, and general information requests.

Patrol officers respond to mutual aid requests for assistance from other Police Departments. The Township of Derry Police Department is proud of the effective communication and outstanding working relationship we share with other agencies, and is committed to assisting other public service professionals in performance of their duties. When dealing with active incidents, officer safety is paramount.