Credit: PA State Police
The Pennsylvania State Police have expanded their Heritage Affairs Section section.
Troopers announced that four full-time Heritage Affairs Liaison Officers (HALOs) have been added to the section. Previously, the unit was staffed by commander Lt. William Slaton and three part-timers, according to state police spokesperson.
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“The mission of the Heritage Affairs Section is to build relationships with historically underserved communities throughout the commonwealth and to work with local law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate hate and bias-related crimes. Section members also lead the department’s training on implicit bias awareness and de-escalation techniques,” state police said.
Corporal Timothy Greene has been named the Southeast Heritage Affairs Liaison Officer. His coverage area includes Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, and York counties.
Greene has been with the state police since 2004 and previously served as a public information officer and community services officer. In addition, he has been active in the troopers’ Camp Cadet program and was the first minority fire chief of Concordville Fire Company in Delaware County at the age of 24.
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“Establishing lines of communication to facilitate meaningful collaboration with local leaders is an important part of community policing, which is why we have dedicated additional resources to the Heritage Affairs Section,” said Colonel Robert Evanchick, the state police commissioner. “Troopers were hand-picked to fill these roles. Their backgrounds reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania, and they will continue to be at the forefront of the department’s efforts to make meaningful connections within the communities we serve.”
Slaton, who leads the unit, said the team will be involved in proactive community outreach and work with local police to attempt to prevent and investigate hate crimes, as well as respond to incidents of civil unrest or community tension.
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