At a previous meeting of the NLCRPD Police Commission Chief David Steffen announced his retirement effective August 4, 2023. He will be succeeded at that time by Lt. Josh Kilgore, who is the certain to provide a seamless leadership transition period.  Chief Steffen is the first and only Chief of Police to lead the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department’s 32-officer force. This position was the final chapter in a 44-year law enforcement career. Steffen previously concluded 27 years of service with the Northern York County Regional Police Department, a 65-officer department serving 88,000 residents. During his career Chief Steffen developed specializations in advanced forensics and death investigations, as well as child abuse and sex offense investigation. He has been assigned to countless complex criminal cases and has investigated over a dozen homicides including the arrest of a serial killer who was portrayed in the national media.In the late summer of 2011 Chief Steffen was provided a very unique opportunity to command a newly formed regional police department and put the lessons learned in a career of regional policing into a newly created department from the actual beginning of the agency. This required the design and branding of the organization, in structure, policy, uniforms and equipment and most importantly the investment in our members.

 

Since the formation period on January 1, 2012 the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department has emerged as a recognized leader in progressive, professional, PLEAC accredited full-service law enforcement. The utilization of technology, training, and career development of agency members are critical in the delivery of high-quality police services to over 42,500 residents. Chief Steffen identified his biggest career reward and achievement as the internal development of the NLCRPD as an organization. Emphasis on mentoring effective and appropriate leadership, development of effective first line supervision, discipline, policy development, training, and technology implementation. The use of sound fiscal and strategic planning, as well as identification and elimination of internal obstacles to organizational change and development of succession and leadership has proven key to the advancement and development of the NLCRPD. Chief Steffen is proud of the professional uniform and unique vehicle emblem design employed by the agency, and the dedication to teamwork by all the members of the organization. The NLCRPD was the first agency in Lancaster County to post all policy directives on the agency web page, utilize an integrated platform for body worn camera, in car camera, booking, and interview room imagery -audio capture to assure the best interest of justice. 

 

 

A native of Fairview Township, York County, Chief Steffen is a graduate of Red Land High School in York County, with an associate of arts degree in police science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. He has also completed extensive coursework in criminal justice and criminal justice administration attending Pennsylvania State University and Elizabethtown College, and has advanced police and command training from Penn State and Northwestern Universities. He has served as a member the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association where he currently sits as the Executive Board Chair. A member the Methadone Death Review Board, and Heroin Task Force Committee of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programming, The Medical Marijuana Board, The Legislative Committee of the Pennsylvania Association of Chiefs of Police and is the immediate past President of the Pennsylvania Associations of Regional Chiefs of Police Section of the IACP, Past President of the Central Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. Executive Officer of the Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Association. He is also a past member of the Board of Directors of ASAP Lititz, Past Member of the Susquehanna Trust Board of Director, and the South-Central Task Force. Steffen has lectured throughout the country on various issues involving critical issues facing police administration and best practices.

 

 

Chief Steffen is looking forward to enjoying the pleasures of a private life, travel, outdoors pursuits, fly fishing and spending time with his family, grandchildren, and most of all his wife of over 43 years – Lisa.