In July of 2004, the Bloomsburg Police Department became the Commonwealth's 16th Municipal Police Department to become accredited. There are 1210 municipal police departments across the state with 47 sharing the distinction of being accredited. Bloomsburg is the only accredited municipal law enforcement agency in Columbia County.
The accreditation process was designed to enhance professionalism among municipal policing and providing compliance to expected policing standards. The re-accreditation process occurs every three years.
Accreditation provides ongoing risk management which in turn provides better and more efficient policing to the citizens of a community. The initial accreditation process took Bloomsburg Police Department three years to complete. The process includes three phases, application, self-assessment and formal assessment by a team of assessors who spend several days reviewing policies and agency procedures as well as compliance proofs.
The Town of Bloomsburg has a multitude of local ordinances that are in place to protect quality of life issues for many residents and students alike. Being informed and educated as to these local ordinances may assist you.
Click here for a list.
The Town of Bloomsburg is home to thousands of Bloomsburg University students. Each year the town’s four hundred off-campus regulated rental units provide housing for over 3,000 students.
Bloomsburg Police Department, The Town’s Code Enforcement & The Bloomsburg Fire Department are all concerned about Fire Safety.
Click here for some guidelines on what you can do to stay safe.
Scholarship Fund Established
James F. Gingher retired after 25 years with the Bloomsburg Police Department and recently passed away. A scholarship fund has been established in his name. The scholarship will provide a monetary amount to a Bloomsburg High School senior who is pursuing a career in law enforcement or the field of criminal justice. Anyone interested in contributing to this may do so by sending a check to the Bloomsburg Police Department, (Jim Gingher Scholarship), 301 E. 2nd Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
Town of Bloomsburg Homeland Security and
All Hazards Emergency Preparedness
The Town of Bloomsburg is actively involved in State and National Homeland Security Efforts to keep its’ residents safe. Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility and is a continuous cycle of activity to achieve, protect against, respond to and recover from major events that require a coordinated town, county, state and national effort to minimize the impact on lives, property and the economy.
In response to September 11, 2001, President Bush called upon all Americans to be vigilant to the threat of terrorism and to defend our nation against additional and future terrorist attacks and natural disasters and health-related epidemics which pose a threat to the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The mission of the Town of Bloomsburg’s All Hazards Emergency Preparedness is to promote and foster a high degree of capability and competency of professionals and volunteers who contribute to the common cause of protecting lives and property from both man-made disasters and natural disasters.
Homeland Security Web Sites:
How can senior citizens protect themselves against crime?
Everyone must face the realities of aging. Situations vary as do the ways people deal with growing older.
Regardless of the circumstances, however, most older people say they worry about crime. Many fear becoming victims of crime. As a group, older people can be a powerful active force. As individuals, they often can be vulnerable and may need help.
Click the links below to learn more.
Memorial Fund Established
Former Bloomsburg Police Sergeant Charles "Chip" Coffman passed away on January 27, 2006. Known by the community as "Chip" served the Town of Bloomsburg Police Department for 27 years retiring at the rank of sergeant in 1999. Shortly after retiring from the police department, "Chip" ran for Mayor and was beginning his second term.
The Bloomsburg Police Department has established a memorial fund in memory of "Chip" Charles Coffman. Donations may be sent to the Bloomsburg Police Department, 301 E. 2nd Street., Bloomsburg, PA 17815. The scholarship fund will provide funding for a Bloomsburg High School senior who is pursuing a degree in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice. Any questions regarding the scholarship may be directed to the Bloomsburg Police Department, Chief Leo Sokoloski at (570) 784-6779.
The Bloomsburg Police Department currently maintain two other scholarships for students pursuing college education in the criminal justice field.
Bloomsburg Police Officer Killed in the Line of Duty
Bloomsburg Police Chief Franklin A. Dent, age 42 died on August 21st, 1927 in the Bloomsburg Hospital after he was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic on Old Berwick Road and Locust Street. Eyewitnesses reported that Dent saw the car speeding down the roadway, blew his whistle and waved his arm and stepped into the middle of the road. The driver increased his speed and turned out his headlights. To avoid being struck, Chief Dent stepped to one side, directly into the path of another car driven by a Northumberland man, the speeding vehicle never stopped. Chief Dent was born in Jerseytown and spent most of his life in Bloomsburg. A veteran of the Spanish – American War, Dent also served in the Marine Corps for four years. Chief began his duties as police chief at the beginning of 1927. Dent left a wife and four children, ages 2 through 11. Bloomsburg Police Department is currently accepting funding to erect a memorial in Dent’s memory.
Dent is the only Bloomsburg Police Officer to die in the line of duty. For more information contact Bloomsburg Police at (570) 784-6779.
February 1, 2010
The Town of Bloomsburg's Police Department was awarded the distinction of being re-accredited by the Pennsylvania Chief's of Police Association on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007. Pennsylvania's Governor and Attorney General were present for the awards ceremony which occurred in Lancaster.