Police Heritage Museum York, Pennsylvania

Jeffrey Allen Orwig
Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer
Pennsylvania Game Commission

Deputy Orwig is a four-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He is currently assigned to southeast York County. Orwig is a Hunter-Trapper Education instructor and is a member of his local volunteer fire department.

Deputy Orwig was born in York, and is a graduate of Red Lion Area High School. Orwig is married with one child.

Deputy Orwig was nominated for the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Southeast Region Deputy of the Year Award.

On July 22, 2007 at approximately 0800 hours, Deputy Orwig was off duty and was entering a convenience store when he heard a horn blow several times followed by lots of yelling. Orwig saw a vehicle driving from the parking lot with the passenger door hanging open and what appeared to be a young girl lying on her back with her feet out the door, and a male driving with his arm around her neck.

Orwig returned to his vehicle and followed the car, catching up with the vehicle after traveling about a mile. The door was still open and the girl was still hanging out. Upon negotiating a sharp curve, the door slammed shut and the car screeched to a halt across the middle of the road. The couple in the car appeared to be struggling.

Orwig positioned his vehicle behind them, and observed the male strike the female with a closed fist several times to the face. The female then broke free and fled back to Orwig's vehicle, entering the passenger side and closing the door. It was at this time that Orwig realized that the female was an adult woman.

The male then exited the car, and approached Orwig. Orwig exited his vehicle, and took cover behind his door. Orwig commanded the male twice to stop, but the male kept approaching. Running out of options, Orwig stated "State Officer, get back in your vehicle." The male returned to his vehicle and sat in the driver's seat.

Due to the rural location, Orwig was unable to contact help via radio. Orwig contacted York County 911 via cell phone, and Hellam Township Police responded to the scene.

Nominated by: Wildlife Conservation Officer Guy Hansen, Pennsylvania Game Commission

David L. Morris
Patrolman First Class
West Manheim Township Police Department

Patrolman Morris is a 15-year veteran of the West Manheim Township Police Department. He is currently assigned to Patrol and Criminal Investigation, and is the JNet and criminal history records coordinator for the department.

Patrolman Morris was born in York, and is a graduate of the Red Lion Area High School, and the Harrisburg Area Community College Municipal Police Academy. Morris is married and has two children.

Patrolman Morris is the recipient of numerous Chief of Police Commendations and was the 2007 Hanover Elks Officer of the Year.

Steve A. Gebhart, Jr.
Patrolman
West Manheim Township Police Department

Patrolman Gebhart is a two-year veteran of the West Manheim Township Police Department. He is currently assigned to Patrol and Criminal Investigation. Gebhart is a volunteer firefighter and EMT.

Patrolman Gebhart was born in Hanover, and is a graduate of New Oxford High School and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Municipal Police Academy. Gebhart is single.

Patrolman Gebhart is the recipient of two Chief of Police Commendations.

On June 18, 2007, Morris was dispatched to a report of a subject that had left a prison work release job, and had fled to the woods, threatening to commit suicide. The subject called his girlfriend and stated he was not going back to prison, and was prepared to take his life by injecting a large quantity of heroin.

Confirming that the subject had purchased a large quantity of heroin a few hours earlier, and discovering that the subject was armed with a large knife, Morris believed the subject would make good on the threat. Attempts to call the subject's cell phone went unanswered.

Morris enlisted the help of Patrolman Gebhart and they contacted Sprint Wireless and started an emergency GPS track on the subject's cell phone. The cell phone was tracked to a heavily wooded area known as "Pigeon Hills."

A command post was established and additional resources were requested to aid in the search. A large party was in progress at a nearby lodge, and the safety of 50+ guests had become a concern.

Morris and Gebhart requested permission to start a ground search on foot prior to the arrival of search dogs and a helicopter. A search plan was arranged, and Morris and Gebhart entered the woods.

Morris and Gebhart located the man, who was semi-conscious and leaning against a tree. Upon noticing the officers approaching, the subject wildly stabbed himself repeatedly in the neck with a large serrated knife. Gebhart deployed a Taser to subdue the subject, and initiated life saving measures, including CPR, airway management and controlling the bleeding. The subject was transported via helicopter to York Hospital where he was hospitalized for several weeks. Fully recovered, the subject is in the custody of the state prison system.

Nominated by: Chief of Police Timothy J. Hippensteel, West Manheim Township Police Department

Travis VanKuren

Travis VanKuren was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and is a 12th grade student at Dallastown Area High School. VanKuren is on the track team, and is involved in the ROTC program.

On April 18, 2007, Springettsbury Township Police were dispatched to the parking lot of Wal-Mart for an attempted abduction. A female was attempting to enter her vehicle when an unknown male subject approached her. The subject claimed to be a police officer and told her to come with him. The subject took her car keys and attempted to handcuff her. The victim resisted and yelled for help.

Travis VanKuren, upon hearing the calls for help, approached and asked the subject what he was doing. As VanKuren got closer, the subject released the victim and fled on foot.

Responding officers located the subject at a nearby bus stop. The victim positively identified the subject. The subject was a registered sex offender, and his intent was to sexually assault the victim.

VanKuren's willingness to risk his own safety and approach an unknown person in need, more than likely saved the victim from a violent assault or worse.

Nominated by: Sergeant Tony L. Beam, Springettsbury Township Police Department

Trent E. Buschman
Police Officer
York Area Regional Police Department

Officer Buschman is a five-year veteran of the York Area Regional Police Department. He is currently assigned to Squad C and to the York County Drug Task Force.

Officer Buschman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and is a graduate of the York County School of Technology and York College of Pennsylvania. Buschman is married and has one child.

Officer Buschman is the recipient of the department's Medal of Valor, three Chief's Commendations and a Letter of Commendation.

On January 24, 2007, Officer Buschman was working an undercover operation with the York County Drug Task Force in the City of York. A suspect fled from the officers, and ran into a small confined area, produced a large caliber handgun, and fired directly at a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper that was pursuing him.

Officer Buschman and a City Detective arrived as the Trooper was scrambling for cover and engaged in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect as bullets struck the wall behind them. The suspect was incapacitated and perished at the scene.

Officer Buschman's actions saved the life of the Trooper at great personal risk to himself.

Nominated by: Chief Thomas C. Gross, York Area Regional Police Department

Troy A. Cromer
Detective
York City Police Department

Detective Cromer is a nine-year veteran of the York City Police Department. Cromer is currently assigned to the patrol division. Cromer was previously assigned to the detective division. Cromer has been a volunteer firefighter for nine years.

Detective Cromer was born in Hanover, and is a graduate of the Harrisburg Area Community College and the University of Maryland. Cromer is married with one child.

On January 24, 2007, Detective Cromer was assisting the York County Drug Task Force in a Buy/Bust operation. A suspect fled from the officers, and ran into a backyard, firing directly at a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper that was pursuing him several times.

Detective Cromer engaged in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect. The suspect was incapacitated and perished at the scene.

Detective Cromer's actions saved the life of the Trooper at great personal risk to himself.

Nominated by: Captain David J. Arnold, York City Police Department

Paul DeHart
Police Officer
York City Police Department

Officer DeHart is a 10-year veteran of the York City Police Department, and is currently assigned to the Patrol division. He is a veteran of the United States Army.

DeHart was born in Harrisburg, and is a graduate of Susquehanna High School and Harrisburg Area Community College. DeHart is single, and has one child.

DeHart is the recipient of three Commissioners Commendations, two Letters of Commendation, and was his department's 2007 Officer of the Year.

In 2007, DeHart is among the shift leaders in criminal arrests, with nine felony and twelve misdemeanor arrests. He served 58 warrants, issued 54 traffic citations and 31 non-traffic citations, and answered more than 1,000 calls in 2007.

DeHart's work ethic is second to none. When not answering calls, DeHart can be found looking for criminal activity. Most of his criminal arrests come from self-initiated activity rather than dispatched calls. He has been instrumental in assisting detectives in solving several homicide cases and giving detectives leads on suspect locations.

On February 14, 2007, DeHart assisted other officers investigating a bank robbery. Responding to back up an officer spotting the suspect, DeHart responded and entered a foot pursuit, apprehending the suspect and recovering the money.

On March 10, 2007, while backing up an officer at a domestic disturbance, DeHart overheard two children talking about a "cowboy" on the couch under some coats. Recognizing the street term, DeHart investigated and recovered a stolen Ruger .45 caliber handgun and arrested the suspect in the house.

In November and December of 2007, the York area was victimized by a string of bank robberies. In one case, a witness provided a partial registration. DeHart took it upon himself to research the PennDOT database where he was able to use the vehicle description to narrow the list of possible vehicles to one possible suspect. DeHart then located the vehicle and enabled detectives to solve several bank robberies.

DeHart has an excellent ability and uses it to combat crime on a daily basis.

Nominated by: Captain David J. Arnold, York City Police Department

Kevin R. Clouser
Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer
Pennsylvania Game Commission

Deputy Clouser is a 19-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Clouser is currently assigned to the Southwestern York County district. Clouser was previously assigned to the Northern York County district.

Deputy Clouser was born in York County, and is a graduate of the Northeastern High School. Clouser is married and has four children.

Deputy Clouser was nominated for the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Southeast Region Deputy of the Year Award.

In 2007, Deputy Clouser worked 487 hours, with the majority of the time being invested in law enforcement and service calls, including recovery of road killed deer. Clouser is part of the Commission's Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer corps, a group of officers that must pay for their own firearms, vehicles, gas, and other miscellaneous items to perform their job. Clouser is provided with work clothing, and is paid $65.00 for each eight hours he worked for approximately three months of the year, volunteering his time for the vast majority of the year.

Clouser provided coverage to a portion of an adjoining district due to a manpower shortage in that district in 2007. He has issued numerous citations in 2007, all of which have concluded successfully.

Clouser has also assisted Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and local park officers with enforcement of natural resource laws, and has successfully conducted several investigations regarding Federal Lacy Act violations from Maryland and five unlawful use of lights while hunting cases in 2007.

Clouser is involved in Hunter/Trapper Education classes, and solicits donations from his full time employer to support these classes. He also volunteers to serve at the Commission's booth at the York Outdoor show and coordinates the district's efforts for the Dover Outdoor Show, and is active in the county's Youth Field Day.

Clouser has answered many complaints of road-killed deer, and maintains a list of needy families in the district, ensuring that they receive a deer when one is available.

Clouser lives the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and has dedicated his life to the agendy.

Nominated by: Wildlife Conservation Officer Chad R. Eyler, Pennsylvania Game Commission

Jack S. Greene
Sergeant
Southwestern Regional Police Department

Sergeant Greene is a six-year veteran of the Southwestern Regional Police Department. He is currently assigned as a patrol sergeant and as a traffic homicide investigator. Greene previously served in the North Codorus Township Police Department, and the Bridgton, Maine Police Department. He has a total of sixteen years of law enforcement experience.

Greene was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of Southwestern High School in Hanover. He also attended Lebanon Valley College. Greene is married and has two children.

Greene is the recipient of five departmental commendations. He was named the Hanover Exchange Club 2007 Police Officer of the Year. He is a Little League Baseball coach, and is active in the Spring Grove School District PTA. He is an avid on-road/off-road motorcyclist.

Sergeant Greene supervises five officers in his department, and ensures they are ready for the job each day. He was instrumental in forming the department six years ago from several smaller agencies, and continues to make major contributions to the department.

Greene is responsible for investigating all fatal vehicle accidents for the department, and is trained as an expert in vehicle reconstruction. As the Crash Report Supervisor, he is responsible for the accuracy of all vehicle accident reports submitted to the state, nearly 2,000 over the past four years.

Greene began the department's on-road/off-road motorcycle program from the ground up, researching equipment and acquiring training, traveling to California to be trained as an instructor at Honda's off-road course.

Greene is program administrator for the department's performance program, monitoring the productivity of the department. He also oversees the time the department's officers spend in each of the four municipalities covered by the department.

Greene is also the program administrator of the department's in car video program, taking it from the idea stage to reality. He programs the computers and video cameras, teaches the officers how to use the equipment, and archives the video from the equipment.

Greene is always busy and continues to form the very foundation of the department.

Nominated by: Chief of Police Gregory M. Bean, Southwestern Regional Police Department