With 2026 being our country's 250th anniversary, we wanted to periodically share moments in the history of the York County Regional Police Department. The third installment is focusing on Chief Earl F. Taylor

Moments in History: Dallastown Borough and Its Police Department

As communities across the nation prepare to celebrate America250 in 2026—honoring our country’s evolution and inspiring the next generation—policing in Dallastown was already in effect at the turn of the 20th century.

Dallastown Borough, incorporated in 1867, saw its first police officer step into uniform in 1902. Harry Fitzkee was the “lucky man” tasked with keeping the community safe, working primarily on weekends for $10 a month. Early officers faced real danger; in May 1912, Chief Fred Minnich was stabbed in the arm while attempting an arrest, earning $12 per month for his service.

The department’s history includes both daily service and notable accidents. In March 1920, John J. Butcher resigned from his dual role as local policeman and garbage collector. On June 16, 1928, Officer Thomas Cox was injured when his motorcycle’s front tire blew out enroute to a hearing in York. By 1947, C.H. Armstrong, previously a Sergeant with Spring Garden Police Department, served as Dallastown’s Chief of Police.

One of the department’s most significant figures was Chief Earl F. Taylor. Born in Hellam, York County, Taylor served multiple York County police agencies and as an investigator for the York County Public Defender’s Office. He first joined Dallastown PD in 1948 and, after a brief stint as a Sergeant at Spring Garden Township PD, returned to lead the department for a total of 20 years, retiring in January 1970.

Taylor’s career was marked by innovation and dedication. In 1957, a radio communication system linking Red Lion and Dallastown Police Departments went into operation. Residents unable to reach the police headquarters were instructed to call a base station at Lion Cab Company in Dallastown, which dispatched messages to cruisers around the clock.

Chief Taylor’s professional accomplishments were numerous. He served as constable in Yoe, was past president of York County Lodge 73 of the Fraternal Order of Police, and contributed to the newly-organized York County Crime Clinic. He completed courses with the FBI and the Public Service Institute of Pennsylvania and coordinated security during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to Dallastown in September 1966. For his crime prevention efforts and service, Taylor received awards from the National Crime Prevention Foundation, the American Legion, and letters of commendation from both the White House and the Director of the Secret Service.

Taylor retired at age 61, proudest of Dallastown’s reputation for having the lowest crime rate in York County. He passed away in March 1985 and is interred at Susquehanna Memorial Gardens.

The legacy of Dallastown Police Department continued after its disbandment on December 31, 1985, when coverage was contracted to York Township Police, later becoming the York Area Regional Police Department in 2000. Through subsequent mergers, the department evolved into today’s York County Regional Police Department, carrying forward the standards of excellence set by early officers like Taylor and Fitzkee. These men laid the foundation for strong, professional policing in our communities, a legacy that continues to guide officers and staff today.

Samantha L. Dorm

Grant Administrator

March 1, 2026