620 Clearwater Rd, Hershey, PA 17033 | Tel: 717-534-2202
Command Staff
Chief Patrick O'Rourke
Chief Patrick M. O’Rourke, Sr., was born and raised in Palmyra, Pennsylvania and is a 1979 graduate of Lebanon Catholic High School. The son of a Pennsylvania State Trooper, Chief O’Rourke was hired by the Derry Township Police Department in February of 1983 and received his Act#120 Certification from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey.
In his 30th year in law enforcement, Chief O’Rourke is the first officer in the history of the department to achieve every rank in the organization and to be assigned to as many specialty positions. He has served in the capacity of Patrol Officer, K-9 Section Supervisor, Detective, Patrol Sergeant in the Traffic and Patrol Section, Detective Sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Section; Lieutenant/ Operations Division Commander and on March 30th, 2011, was promoted to Chief of Police. His specialized training includes arson investigation, six years in the K-9 Unit, Electronic Surveillance (Wiretap), eight years in undercover narcotics/criminal investigation and four years as a hostage negotiator on the Dauphin County Crisis Response Team (CRT).
Chief O’Rourke has an extensive background in Incident Command (ICS) and Counter-Terrorism Training. He is certified in developing Buffer Zone Protection Plans (BZPP), conducting vulnerability assessments on key assets and critical infrastructure. He attended extensive post 9/11 Counter-Terrorism (CBRNE) training across the nation, which includes; Hazardous Materials Technician, Chemical/Biological Training, Radiological/Nuclear Training, Explosives/Bomb Training, and is certified as a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Tactical Commander.
Chief O’Rourke possesses an Associates Degree in Business Management from York College of Pennsylvania, a Bachelors Degree in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University in St. Davies, Pa. and is a 2009 Graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He has over thirty years experience in the volunteer fire service and is a life member of the Palmyra Fire Department, the former Spring Garden Township Fire Department and previously served as an E.M.T., Firefighter, Engine Operator, Lieutenant and past President.
Chief O’Rourke is a member of the Dauphin County Chiefs of Police Association, Vice President of the Central Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association and serves on the Legislative Committee for the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. He serves on the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee for Harrisburg Area Community College and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Dauphin County Victim/Witness Assistance Program. He is the founder of C.O.P.S. for K.O.P.S. charity, a non-profit benefiting children left behind by officers killed in the line of duty.
In his spare time, Chief O’Rourke is an accomplished bagpiper and has performed along the east coast for events that include the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Flight#93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pa. and the Annual NASCAR Race in Dover, Delaware. Additionally, he has participated in opening acts for Rod Stewart, The Black Watch as well as Coldstream and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
Lieutenant Timothy C. Roche
Born and raised in Scranton, Lieutenant Roche graduated from Scranton Prep High School and then enlisted in the US Army Reserves where he served as a Combat Medic during overseas deployment to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon return, Lt. Roche was awarded an ROTC scholarship while attending the University of Scranton. While attending college, Lt. Roche held part-time positions as a police dispatcher and emergency medical technician for the City of Scranton. Having graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Criminal Justice and International Studies, Lt. Roche entered active duty service in the US Army as a commissioned officer in the Military Police Corps, where he served overseas and stateside in positions of Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Special Reaction Team Commander and Deputy Provost Marshal before leaving Active Duty at the rank of Captain.
Lieutenant Roche gained employment with the Derry Township Police in 1998 and upon completion of the 68th Municipal Police Academy at Harrisburg Area Community College, he began police service in the patrol division. He subsequently served in positions on the Special Enforcement Team, Bike Patrol Unit, Motor Carrier Enforcement Team, Dauphin County Honor Guard Unit and Community Services Platoon. Lt. Roche also performed duties as CPR/First Aid Instructor, Taser Instructor, Assistant Accreditation Manager and Mobile Communications Unit crewmember. Lt. Roche played a critical role in implementing a department wide training and equipment program for purposes of civil disturbance and WMD response. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in May 2011 and later to his current rank of Lieutenant in September 2011, in which he currently serves as Assistant Chief of Police and Township of Derry Emergency Management Coordinator.
Lieutenant Roche was the recipient of numerous awards including the Hershey Lions Club Officer of the Year, Annual Police Employee Performance Award, International Association of Chiefs' of Police/Dupont Survivors Club Award, Pennsylvania Masonic Lodge Shield & Square Club Officer of the Year Award, Harrisburg Crime Clinic Commendation as well as Township of Derry Police Department Commendations and Awards.
Lieutenant Roche is a member of the Dauphin County Chiefs of Police Association, the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, South Central Task Force and the International Police Mountain Bike Association.
Lieutenant Garth W. Warner
Lieutenant Warner was raised, and has lived and worked in Derry Township nearly his entire life. Both of his grandfathers worked in the Hershey Chocolate Factory and his grandmother worked for the Milton Hershey School. Lieutenant Warner graduated from Hershey High School in 1983. One of his first jobs, like many teens living in Hershey, was at Hersheypark, eventually working in the Security Department. During that time, he developed an interest in the field of Law Enforcement. He passed entry into and paid his own way through the 32nd Municipal Police Academy at Harrisburg Area Community College. Immediately after graduation from the Police Academy in April 1985, he was hired part-time and started work for the Highspire Borough Police Department at the age of 19.
In September 1985 he was hired fulltime by South Londonderry Township Police Department in Lebanon County. In addition to his Patrol Officer responsibilities, he worked as an evidence technician and photographer.
Lieutenant Warner joined the Derry Township Police Department in March of 1988. During his tenure with Derry Township, Lieutenant Warner has served in the Department’s Traffic Safety Section, and is one of the Department’s certified Traffic Accident Reconstructionists. He also serves as one of the Department’s Employee Assistance Peer Support Officers.
His assignment over the last 20 years has been in the K-9 Unit. A responsibility he has taken on with great pride and commitment. He has had three K-9 partners, Rex, Jet, and currently, Renko.
