Allegheny Township appoints new officer in charge, hires full-time officer
There’s new leadership in the Allegheny Township Police Department.
Supervisors appointed Sgt. Dan Uncapher on Monday as officer in charge, replacing Chief Duane Fisher, who ends his employment with the township Oct. 20.
Fisher submitted his resignation in mid-September and recently was named police chief in Manheim Township, a Lancaster County community of 44,000 residents.
Allegheny Township encompasses about 36 square miles, including more than 100 miles of highways.
Uncapher, 52, a lifelong Allegheny Township resident who grew up in the Oaks Plan, graduated from Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind., in 1989.
After Culver, Uncapher enrolled for two years at Penn State New Kensington and later enrolled and graduated from the IUP Police Academy in 1992.
He worked for the Leechburg Police Department for two years, but the majority of his law enforcement career has been in his hometown.
Uncapher was hired by Allegheny Township in 1993.
“My message to the residents is always be observant, be careful and familiar with your surroundings and, as far as the police department goes, I look forward to interacting with the public, working with all of the officers and furthering the safety of this community. I wish the people of this community all the best,” Uncapher said Tuesday.
For Uncapher, pursuing a degree in law enforcement was something he always knew he wanted to do.
“I come from a legal family (attorneys), and I was interested in the application of law rather than arguing the law,” Uncapher said.
His investigative skills are used daily in the township.
“Since 2017, when I was promoted to sergeant, I’ve been leading criminal investigations, and the greatest reward for me is bringing justice to victims. That makes the time and energy involved in the cases worthwhile,” Uncapher said.
The department offers 24/7 coverage to its residents.
“I’m big on community policing — by getting to know your community. I tell every new officer you’ve got to know the places, the people and the things that they do. If you can figure those three things out, you know what’s going on.”
Uncapher said the three township-related topics he fields the most complaints about are traffic, crime and narcotics.
New officer brings youthful energy
Supervisors approved the hiring of full-time police Officer Anthony Mangee, 21.
Uncapher praised the decision.
“Most of all, Anthony brings youth and the energy that comes with that,” Uncapher said. “I tell all young officers there’s a learning curve, and it takes about five years until officers are very comfortable in the decisions they make.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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