Longtime York County police chief retires
SPRING GARDEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) — Spring Garden Township’s Police long-time Chief George J. Swartz, Jr. has officially retired after 44 years of public service.
Swartz was honored for his career in law enforcement and service to the community at the township’s Board of Commissioners Meeting last week.
According to the department, Swartz began his career in law enforcement in 1980 in York and held multiple positions until he retired at the rank of captain.
He was appointed chief of police for the Spring Garden Township Police Department in 2001, where he managed 24 employees and a $2 million budget.
Courtesy Spring Garden Township Police Courtesy Spring Garden Township Police Courtesy Spring Garden Township Police Courtesy Spring Garden Township Police
Under his leadership, the department was accredited in 2009 through Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Program and has maintained accredited for the last 15 years.
The department says the chief advocated community relationship-building by championing projects including Operation Vigilant Guardian, Operation School Guardian, and Operation Honorable Endeavor.
Other key accomplishments during Swartz’s time as Chief included the implementation of a body camera program for officer safety and accountability, a motorcycle and bicycle unit, and Crime Scene Evidence Collection.
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Swartz was also a leader in the design and implementation of the township’s new police facility, the department said,
Swartz holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice from York College and a masters degree in human organization science from Villanova University.
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