Police Heritage Museum York, Pennsylvania

Michael Bosco
Police Officer
Newberry Township Police Department

Officer Bosco is a 6-year veteran of the Newberry Township Police Department. He is currently assigned as a patrol officer, and serves on the Drug Task Force, the Quick Response Team, is a ballistic shield and patrol rifle instructor and a field-training officer.

Officer Bosco was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of East Strasburg University. Officer Bosco is single.

Officer Bosco is the recipient of two departmental Medals of Honor, a Meritorious Service Award, multiple commendations, and is the department's 2008 Officer of the Year.

In August of 2008, the Newberry Township Police Department was serving a search warrant as part of an investigation into an alleged rape. Officer Bosco was off-duty and responded to a officer's request for assistance. Officer Bosco took second position in a four-man entry team. After entering the residence, the team found the suspect's bedroom door locked from the inside. After repeated announcements with no response, the team breached the door and gunshots were exchanged. Due to Officer Bosco taking the second position in the entry team, Officer Bosco was exposed to danger and protected other officers from being in the line of fire.

Nominated by: Sergeant Gregory L. Starner, Newberry Township Police Department

Jeffrey T. Spence
Detective First Class
York City Police Department

Detective Spence is a 20 year veteran of the York City Police Department. His current assignment is as Detective Supervisor in the Detective Bureau. Spence was previously assigned to Patrol and Community Policing.

Detective Spence was born in York, and is married with four children.

Detective Spence is a veteran of the United States Air Force and Reserves, and previously coached York City Youth League baseball and basketball. Spence is the recipient of twenty-one Chiefs and Commissioners Commendations, one Award of Achievement and an Award of Merit. Spence was the department's 2008 Officer of the Year.

Detective Spence is the direct supervisor for the six detectives that investigate the Crimes Against Persons (robberies/homicides), Crimes against Property (thefts/ burglaries) and Identity Theft/ Forgery sections. Spence displays a strong dedication to his job and his concern for the victims shows in his work.

Detective Spence's work and the work of the detectives under his supervision goes far in furthering the reputation of the York City Police Dept and the quality of its investigations.

Detective Spence also carries an active caseload, investigating homicides and robberies side by side with the detectives he supervises. Spence's knowledge of the city and its residents, those involved in criminal activity, his skill as an investigator and ability to talk to people, both victim and suspect alike, has earned him the respect of other officers both within and outside the Department.

In 2008 the Detective Division investigated 12 homicides with a l00% clearance rate. In 2008, Detective Spence was primary investigator or assisted in 29 active robbery or homicide investigations. Spence personally investigated and charged suspects in three homicides, 4 robberies, three aggravated assaults, one kidnaping, 2 obstructions and one hindering apprehension case.

Nominated by: Lieutenant Timothy Utley, York City Police Department

Michael Bosco
Police Officer
Newberry Township Police Department

Officer Bosco is a 6-year veteran of the Newberry Township Police Department. He is currently assigned as a patrol officer, and serves on the Drug Task Force, the Quick Response Team, is a ballistic shield and patrol rifle instructor and a field-training officer.

Officer Bosco was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of East Strasburg University. Officer Bosco is single.

Officer Bosco is the recipient of two departmental Medals of Honor, a Meritorious Service Award, multiple commendations, and is the department's 2008 Officer of the Year.

Officer Bosco joined the department in June of 2003 as a certified officer with no prior police experience. Bosco caught on quickly, and eventually excelled in DUI and traffic enforcement and developed one of the highest criminal arrest rates in the department.

Officer Bosco serves with the York County Drug Task Force and the York County Quick Response Team. Bosco constantly strives to improve his skills to the benefit of his co-workers.

In April of 2008, Officer Bosco, as part of the Quick Response Team, made a tactical entry into a residence where deadly force was used to protect members of the team.

In August of 2008, the Newberry Township Police Department was serving a search warrant as part of an investigation into an alleged rape. Officer Bosco was off-duty and responded to a officer's request for assistance. Officer Bosco took second position in a four-man entry team. After entering the residence, the team found the suspect's bedroom door locked from the inside. After repeated announcements with no response, the team breached the door and gunshots were exchanged. Due to Officer Bosco taking the second position in the entry team, Officer Bosco was exposed to danger and protected other officers from being in the line of fire.

Nominated by: Sergeant Gregory L. Starner, Newberry Township Police Department

George T. Erskine
Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer
Pennsylvania Game Commission

Deputy Erskine is a 12-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Erskine is currently assigned to District 6-67-2.

Deputy Erskine was born in Baltimore, Maryland and is a graduate of the York County Vocational Technical School. Deputy Erskine is single, and has three children.

Deputy Erskine is a veteran of the United States Army, and served as a volunteer firefighter for 16 years with the Rescue Fire Company of Dallastown. Erskine is the recipient of three life-saving awards from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, two life-saving awards from the Rescue Fire Company of Dallastown, and was the 2004 Southeast Region Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer of the Year.

In 2008, Deputy Erskine worked 861 hours. Erskine 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. Erskine is provided with work clothing, and is paid $65.00 for each eight hours he worked for approximately three months, and volunteering his time for the vast majority of the year.

Deputy Erskine maintains an excellent law enforcement program, producing about 100 prosecutions each year, and issues double the amount of warnings each year. Erskine not only provides services to his district, but other districts as well. He regularly patrols to District 6-67-1 rifle range and passes information on to the appropriate officer. Erskine responded to an illegal deer complaint in District 6-67-3 when an officer was not available, and apprehended three subjects with illegal deer.

Deputy Erskine was the officer in charge of a very high profile Federal Lacy Act violation that occurred in 2008 near Glen Rock. This case involved several subjects that were illegally killing white-tailed deer at night and illegally transporting other white-tailed deer from Maryland., Without Erskine's efforts this case may never have been brought to a successful conclusion.

Deputy Erskine spends many of his working hours on the York New Salem Game Lands. This area is close to the population of York, and has many problems unique to the area. In the past this area was severely abused due to the lack of an enforcement effort in the area. Erskine is almost solely responsible for the change in the area and the great reduction of criminal activity in that area. Erskine is a constant in the area, and the legitimate users of the game lands appreciate Erskine's effort.

Deputy Erskine produces many cases for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission within York County. Erskine has expanded his knowledge of migratory bird enforcement, and has completed several projects to aid in officer training. Erskine has produced electrical stimulus kits for Commission vehicles, which were also distributed to Ohio Fish and Game officers at the Ohio Waterfowl Academy.

Deputy Erskine also assists with the district's Hunter-Trapper education program, and has been part of at least half of the courses that are given each year. Erskine is also the primary Commission representative to the Springfield Township Farmers and Sportsmen's Association, attending meetings and reporting on the Commission's activities.

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