As local emergency medical service providers deal with limited funding sources and dwindling staff numbers, Centre Region law enforcement offices also are adapting to changing circumstances. In just one year, three police departments have seen, or will see, a change in leadership.
Late last year, State College Police Chief Tom King retired after 23 years in the position and 35 years with the department. He moved into a new role as assistant borough manager and was succeeded as chief by John Gardner, who had previously been assistant chief.
Patton Township Police Chief John Petrick stepped down to take a position at Penn State after 15 years as top law enforcement officer in the township and 22 years with the department. A search for his replacement is under way.
On June 19, the expected change in the ranks at Ferguson Township was made official when the board of supervisors approved the appointment of Sgt. Chris Albright to become the next chief of police, effective Friday, June 30. Chief Diane Conrad has been with the department since 2004 and in March she announced she planned to retire.
Township manager Dave Pribulka said Albright was selected during a rigorous recruitment process from more than 30 qualified candidates, a list that was narrowed through a series of interviews with staff, other municipal managers, a community stakeholder group and a hiring consultant.
“Consistently and without exception during the recruitment process, his name was at the top of a long and competitive list,” Pribulka said. “He has earned the support and respect of his peers and fellow officers, and his passion and commitment to the profession of law enforcement is second to none.”
A lifelong resident of the township, Albright has worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years. He graduated from State College Area High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Penn State and a master’s in security management from Bellevue University.
“I’m honored and very excited to represent the community both in this new role as police chief and in my former role as a police officer,” Albright said. “Modern policing involves a lot of challenges and is always evolving. One of the things for me is my goal is to provide that leadership for the department to take us into that next step.”
Albright has been a bicycle officer, field training officer, a member of the tactical response team and a member of the hostage negotiation team.
As an administrative sergeant, he has managed the department’s vehicle fleet, conducted internal affairs investigations and handled background checks for new hires while also supervising the records office and the detective unit and serving as traffic detail coordinator.
In his current role, Albright has been second-in- command for the department.
“The goal for our department is to continue to grow to meet the expectations of the community. I look forward to that,” Albright said. “I’ve got a lot of family here and without their support I wouldn’t be here today. I want to thank everyone for this opportunity.”
