Port Gellhorn Police Department

The Port Gellhorn Police Department (PGPD) is the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Port Gellhorn. The PGPD is responsible for patrolling the Port Gellhorn area and with responding to various calls for service. The department also conducts speed enforcement and traffic accident investigations in and around the city.

The current Chief of Police is Doug Bachman who was appointed by Mayor David Lazarus (R).

## History

The Port Gellhorn Police Department was formed on June 17, 1894. The PGPD once formed was a small department in which the officers generally supplied their equipment but were issued a uniform. The PGPD didn't fully get funded until 1902 when police officers held a strike which forced the city to pay them more and to better fund the department. In 1908, the department purchased vehicles but still encouraged foot patrols by officers.

During the Prohibition Era, the PGPD conducted several raids on illegal bars and distilleries within the city and suburb areas. The PGPD also combated the rise in Mafia related activities but began to focus on other crimes such as robberies and thefts more during the 1940's and 1950's. During the Civil Rights movement the PGPD responded with force to break up the "illegal protest".

In 1972, the PGPD established a SWAT unit to combat a rise in violent crimes and bank robberies around the city. In 1976, the PGPD formed a Vice Squad to combat a rise in illegal drugs and for undercover operations around the city. During the 1980's the PGPD increased their image by getting involved in reality TV shows and increasing their interactions with the media regarding police patrols. In 1987, the department began installing dashcams in all patrol vehicles and it was standard practice by 1989.

In 1991, the PGPD adopted the Glock Model 17 Gen 2 9mm as the department issued handgun, replacing the Smith & Wesson Model 19-4 .357 Magnum revolver. The Glock was chosen due to being light and due to its higher capacity magazine capacity. The department however within the first few years saw a rise in officer involved shootings with the Glock due to officers having more rounds and due to the lighter trigger.

In 2002, the PGPD adopted the Glock Model 22 Gen 3 .40 S&W as the department issued handgun for all officers, replacing the Glock Model 17 Gen 2 9mm. Around 2004, the department also increased their aggressive patrols towards the combating of illegal Marijuana grow farms that began popping up across the city. The department became notorious for searching vehicles on traffic stops and with combating crime aggressively.

In 2012, the PGPD adopted the Glock Model 22 Gen 4 .40 S&W as the department issued handgun but would replace it with the Smith & Wesson M&P40 .40 S&W in 2014. The department adopted the M&P40 due to the new Glock's having issues with malfunctions, not firing and with reliability issues in the field. The department also sued Glock due to Glock not addressing the issue properly and giving the department faulty guns. The PGPD won the lawsuit and Glock had to pay them $500,000 for the costs that the department made with getting the new Glock's in 2012.

In January 2024, the PGPD adopted the 9mm SIG Sauer P320 X-Full Size as the standard handgun for all officers.

## Chief's of Police

* Doug Bachman (2017-Present)
* Janice Cooper (2013-2017)
* Deon Johnston (2008-2013)
* Richard Winston (2002-2008)
* John Kemper (1994-2002)
* Shaun Edwards (1988-1994)
* Cooper Pearlman (1973-1988)
* Clyde Welch (1965-1973)
* Bill Manchin (1948-1965)
* Thomas Youngman (1940-1948)
* Peter Griffith (1927-1940)
* Will Carl (1915-1927)
* Richard Wilson (1910-1915)
* G.L Monroe (1894-1910)

## Ranks

* Chief of Police
* Assistant Chief of Police
* Assistant Deputy Chief
* Major
* Captain
* Lieutenant
* Sergeant
* Detective
* Corporal
* Officer

## Divisions

* Aviation Division
* Community Relations Unit
* Crime Suppression Unit (CSU)
* Detective Bureau
* Gang Aggression Team (GAT)
* Internal Affairs Bureau
* K-9 Unit
* Major Crimes Bureau
* Patrol Division
* Special Response Unit (SRU)
* Traffic Enforcement
* Water Patrol Division

## Equipment

All officers are issued an X2 Taser, ASP Baton and OC Spray for their less-lethal options in the field. Officers also are all issued bodycams which became standard in 2016 with the GCPD.

All officers are issued the SIG Sauer P320 X-Full Size 9mm handgun which entered service in 2024. Prior, officers were issued the Smith & Wesson M&P40 .40 S&W handgun which entered service in 2014.

Officers are also issued the Remington Model 870 12 gauge pump action shotgun in their patrol vehicles. The Bushmaster XM-15 5.56x45mm and the Colt LE6920 5.56x45mm are the two patrol rifles currently in use with the department.