York City Police Department K-9 Unit.
This is a late 1960s photo of the York City, Pennsylvania Police Department K-9 unit taken at the York Fair grounds. The officers, accompanied by their dogs, are in their training uniforms. The officers are, from left to right: Ron Heist, Earl Frey, Fred Gibson, Steve Gibbs, Charlie Morrow, Bill Farrell, and Nevin Barley.
West York Police Department.
This 1950's era photograph shows three members of the West York Borough, Pennsylvania Police Department and their patrol vehicles, two motorcycles and a Ford patrol car. The officers and their vehicles are on the driveway of the Reliance fire house, then located in the 1400 block of West Market Street in West York Borough.
Officer Ed Myers, Red Lion Police Department.
Pictured in 1924 is Red Lion Police Officer Ed Myers astride his sidecar equipped police Harley Davidson motorcycle. The sidecar was a common accessory for police motorcycles of that era. The officer is carrying a semi-automatic pistol, carried in an open top cross draw style holster. The semi-auto pistol was unusual, as most officers of this era were carrying revolvers.

York City Chiefs of Police

In 2008, York City Police historian John Stine finished his research to compile a list of Police Chiefs and Commissioners that have commanded the York City Police Department.

Prior to 1855, the High Constable was elected and had charge of the Watchmen. 1855 found the first reference to the Chief of Police (actually found as Chief Police).

In Pennsylvania, a Police Chief (or Chief of Police) is the head of a police agency that has completed the necessary training as required by Act 120 to provide law enforcement in the Commonwealth. A Police Commissioner is the head of a law enforcement agency that is not Act 120 certified. Typically, a Police Chief will come up through the ranks within the department, whereas a Police Commissioner will usually be a person hired from outside the department to lead the agency.

This roster was updated in July of 2020, expanding on John Stine's initial research, which now includes detailed lengths of service as well as additional information and error corrections.


Joseph K. Sharp
Chief Police
1855


Joseph Ruby
Chief of Police
1856


Samuel Warring
Chief of Police
1857


Joseph Ruby
Chief of Police
May 1857 to May 1858


Samuel Warring
Chief of Police
May 1858 to Apr 1861


James Kendig
Chief of Police
Apr 1861 to Apr 1863


Frederick A. Zorger
Chief of Police
Apr 1863 to Apr 1887


H. Samuel Spangler
Chief of Police
Apr 1887 to Apr 1888


George W. Powell
Chief of Police
Apr 1888 to Jul 1893


Samuel A. Bookman
Chief of Police
Jul 1893 to Apr 1896


Walter B. White
Chief of Police
Apr 1896 to Feb 1902


Peter G. Reisinger
Chief of Police
Feb 1902 to Apr 1902


Jacob Hose
Chief of Police
Apr 1902 to Apr 1908


Charles A. Bush
Chief of Police
Apr 1908 to Dec 1911


Charles K. Binder
Chief of Police
Dec 1911 to Feb 1916


Fred W. Kottcamp
Chief of Police
Feb 1916 to Mar 1918


Harvey C. Myers
Acting Chief of Police 2
July 1916


Fred W. Kottcamp
Chief of Police
Feb 1916 to Mar 1918


John F. Buttorff
Chief of Police
Mar 1918 to Jan 1920


William C. Craver
Chief of Police
Jan 1920 to Jan 1922


John F. Buttorff
Chief of Police
Jan 1922 to Jan 1926


Adam H. Stevens
Chief of Police
Jan 1926 to Jan 1928


Michael J. Schwint
Chief of Police
Jan 1928 to Jan 1932


Charles P. Gerber
Chief of Police
Jan 1932 to Feb 1943


William A. Eisenhower
Acting Chief of Police
Aug 1943 to Jan 1944


Nelson L. Shultz
Chief of Police
Jan 1944 to Jan 1948


Jeremiah Sipe, Jr.
Chief of Police
Jan 1948 to Feb 1951


Jacob W. Hose, Sr.
Acting Chief of Police 3
May 1948 to Nov 1948


Jeremiah Sipe, Jr.
Chief of Police
Jan 1948 to Feb 1951


Jacob W. Hose, Sr.
Actine Chief of Police
Feb 1951 to Mar 1951
Chief of Police
Mar 1951 to Jan 1952


Gorman J. Christine
Acting Chief of Police
Jan 1952 to Feb 1952
Chief of Police
Feb 1952 to Dec 1955


Richard K. Johnson
Chief of Police
Jan 1956 to Apr 1960


William J. Bynane
Police Commissioner 4
Jan 1956 to Dec 1961


Ira W. Bohn
Chief of Police
Apr 1960 to Dec 1961


William H. Kapp
Captain of Police
Jan 1962 to June 1964
Chief of Police
Jun 1964 to Apr 1968


Leonard L. Landis
Chief of Police
May 1968 to Feb 1972


Elmer C. Bortner
Colonel of Police 5
Dec 1971 to Jan 1974
Chief of Police
Jan 1974 to Jun 1974


Wayne A. Ruppert
Acting Chief of Police
May 1974 to Oct 1974
Chief of Police
Oct 1974 to Dec 1978


Anthony N. Potter, Jr.
Police Commissioner
Dec 1978 to Apr 1980


Thomas V. Chatman
Acting Chief of Police
Apr 1980 to Jun 1980
Chief of Police
Jun 1980 to Jan 1982


William M. Hose
Chief of Police
Jan 1982 to Aug 1992


William E. Smith
Chief of Police
Sep 1992 to Jun 1994


Thomas C. Gross
Acting Chief of Police
Jun 1994 to Jan 1995


Russell L. Clanagan
Police Commissioner
Jan 1995 to Dec 1995


Thomas C. Gross
Acting Chief of Police
Dec 1995 to Jan 1996


Herbert F. Grofcsik
Police Commissioner
Jan 1996 to Jan 2002


Michael R. Hill
Chief of Police
Jan 2002 to Jan 2003


John S. Senft
Fire Chief
Acting Police Commissioner
Jan 2003 to Sep 2003


Mark L. Whitman
Police Commissioner
Sep 2003 to Mar 2010


Wesley A. Kahley
Acting Chief of Police
Jan 2010 to Apr 2010
Chief of Police
Apr 2010 to Dec 2017


Troy M. Bankert
Acting Chief of Police
Jan 2018 to Jun 2018
Chief of Police
Jun 2018 to Jan 2020


Osborne Robinson III
Police Commissioner
Jan 2020 to October 2020


Daniel Aikey
Acting Chief of Police
October 2020


Michael Muldrow
Police Commissioner
October 2020 to  

NOTES

1) In late 1860, John Minnen was apparently named to be the new Chief of Police to succeed Chief Samuel Warring when the new administration took office in April 1861. However, an article in the December 25, 1860 York Gazette newspaper mentions that John Minnen had resigned from the position. Since he apparently never actually held the position, his name is not included in the roster, but included here for historical reference.

2) Sergeant Harvey C. Myers was appointed as Acting Chief of Police for one week in July of 1916 while Chief of Police Fred W. Kottcamp and his wife were on vacation.

3) Police Chief Jere Sipe was stricken by illness in April of 1948, and was unable to return to work until November of 1948. During his absence, Capt. Jacob W. Hose, Sr. was named Acting Chief of Police.

4) From January 2, 1956 to December 31, 1961 the York Police Department had both a uniformed Chief of Police and a civilian Police Commissioner to lead the department. The police commissioner was to fulfill a campaign promise by mayoral candidate Fred A. Schiding to provide civilian oversight of and reform to the polcie department. An ordinance had been passed in February of 1952 creating the position of police superintendent, but the position required the city council to confirm the nomination of the mayor for the position, and it had never been filled. The "civilian" commissioner, William J. Bynane, spent 29 years with the Pennsylvania State Police, retiring at the rank of First Sergeant. Bynane resigned on December 31, 1961 as a new mayor-council form of government had been adopted for the city, a new Republican mayor had been elected, and the police commissioner position was likely to be abolished.

5) On December 17, 1971, when Elmer C. Bortner was promoted to head the police department, then Public Safety Director Leslie Jackson abolished the postion of Chief of Police and replaced it with the position of Colonel of Police. Jackson felt the rank was more in line with the duties of the office, and mirrored a similar rank in the Pennsylvania State Police, where Jackson retired from in 1963 after 26 years of service. The position appears to have changed back to Chief of Police in January of 1974 after a new mayor took office and a new public safety director was appointed.

 

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