Task Force History
The idea of starting a County Wide Fire Police Task Force came about after a traffic accident on Route 501 & Valley Road involving a Tractor Trailer with wires down. This was on a Hot afternoon late June or early July 2011.
After talking with the Fire Chief & Manheim Township Police Department, Fire Police Officer Luke Gerhart of MTFR realized this was going to be a lengthly call. Officer Gerhart asked the Fire Chief to contact County Radio to have additional companies dispatched for Fire Police. There were 5 to 10 Companies dispatched for the Fire Police to handle traffic Control at the call.
Several days after the call, Officer Gerhart called Fire Police Captain Bob Lamb of Rothsville Fire Company to ask his opinion on an idea he was thinking about. Officer Gerhart explained to Captain Lamb his idea of dispatching Fire Police to large incidents which Captain Lamb thought was a great idea.
In July of 2011, the Lancaster County Fire Police Task Force was by Officer Gerhart to explore an alternative method of dispatching a large number of Fire Police to large scale events.
The Committee started with Officer Gerhart and Captain Bob Lamb, They met several times and invited Bob Billett from West Earl (Fire Police Sargent) and Witmer Fire Company (Fire Police Captain) to join their group.
After meeting several more times, Lieutenant Ed Slaymaker from Lancaster Township Fire Department and Fire Police Captain Norman Brower from New Holland Fire Company were asked to join the group. The Five member committee began to meet bi-weekly.
In April 2012 the committee began meeting on a weekly basis.
Lancaster County EMA Randy Gockley and Rick Harrison from LCWC advised the LCFPTF.
Lancaster County Fire Police Task Force Executive Original OfficersLuke Gerhart - Fire Police Captain Station 207 & 23Bob Lamb - Fire Police Captain Station 24Bob Billett - Fire Police Sargent Station 29 & Fire Police Captain Station 62Ed Slaymaker - Fire Police Lieutenant Station 66Norman Brower - Fire Police Captain Station 39