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Crafton police chief details equipment upgrades, training and evidence-room overhaul
Summary
Chief Ford reported six months of department changes: new weapons and Taser 10 certification, expanded training and body‑worn camera administration, and an evidence-room and locker-room reorganization meant to improve storage, compliance and officer welfare.
Chief Ford delivered a six‑month report to Crafton Borough Council on Feb. 12, saying department changes and investments aim to improve officer training, accountability and community safety.
Ford said the department has introduced Taser 10 devices and upgraded to Glock 9mm pistols with red‑dot sights to improve accuracy. He described a push to expand certifications and in‑house training, including firearms, use‑of‑force refreshers and active‑shooter response. "We're gonna be on officer wellness, improved equipment, and ... a lot more effective and robust training," Ford said.
Ford walked the council through personnel assignments and responsibilities for sergeants and officers, highlighting roles for evidence management, accident reporting and the new case management process for body‑worn cameras. He said sergeants now assist with logging mandated training into the state system and that the department is moving its evidence storage to a state‑compliant room with improved security and a new door. "We're gonna put a better door on there. We're gonna have camera systems in there. It'll be state compliant," Ford said.
On operational results, Ford presented calls‑for‑service figures: roughly 2,081 calls in 2024 and 1,964 in 2025, with arrests broadly similar year to year. He noted a decline in warrant arrests (22 in 2024 vs. 8 in 2025) and reiterated the department's emphasis on clearing pending warrants promptly. Ford also described plans for a Citizens Police Academy to increase community understanding of police work.
Ford credited officers' extended efforts during the recent snow event and described ongoing work to purge and organize decades of accumulated evidence. "They have worked very hard," he said, commending staff who logged many overtime hours.
The council asked questions about increased personnel needs, training schedules and community outreach; Ford said training recertification cycles vary from one to several years depending on the certification and committed to updates as programs proceed. The chief concluded by saying department organization and equipment changes were intended to create a safer work environment and better service for residents.
Looking ahead, Ford said the department will continue implementing the evidence‑room improvements, finalize training schedules tied to state requirements and begin community engagement initiatives such as the Citizens Police Academy.
