Dallas Township Police

“Professional, progressive and community oriented”

Police Department information is available through the Dallas Township Police Department’s CrimeWatch website at dallastwppd.org. The site provides news, public safety updates, resources, and the ability to subscribe to alerts and notifications.

Thank you,
Chief Douglas Higgins

The Passing of K-9 Officer Tomy

Please keep Assistant Chief Feeney and his family in your thoughts during this difficult time.

K-9 Officer Tomy
End of Watch: July 29, 2025

Rest easy, Tomy. We’ll take it from here.

Township Officer Receives Award From Luzerne County Child Advocacy Center

DTPD Drug Cleanup

Dallas Township Police Officer Bernard Posten Awarded ‘Pennsylvania Officer of the Year’ by Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence

L.E.A.D. Honors Local Police Officer Nationally for his Commitment to Educating Communities on the Dangers of Drugs and Violence

ALLENTOWN, NJ, March 23, 2022 – Dallas Township Police Officer, Bernard Posten, was recognized as “Pennsylvania Officer of the Year” by Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence (L.E.A.D.), a nationwide nonprofit committed to protecting communities from drugs and violence. The award was presented to Officer Posten at L.E.A.D.’s Seventh Annual 21st Century Drug and Violence Prevention Training Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“We’re pleased to congratulate Officer Posten on his outstanding work, during the school day, educating kids on the value of drug and violence prevention,” said Nick DeMauro, CEO of L.E.A.D. “Drugs and violence continue to be a problem for young students across the country, so we commend him on protecting those in Dallas Township from these dangers which, in turn, is bridging the gap between police forces and communities.”

L.E.A.D. provides services “on the street” and “in the classroom” as it brings law enforcement and communities closer together. The “in the classroom” program is taught by 3000 trained instructors in 41 states. L.E.A.D. has the only proven effective, law enforcement-focused anti–drug, anti–violence curriculum for K-12 students in the U.S. The L.E.A.D. curriculum is taught over the course of a 10-week program to educate youth on how they can make smart decisions without the involvement of drugs or violence.

Currently, Officer Posten teaches approximately 187 fourth grade students in Dallas Township and, next year, will begin teaching sixth and eighth grade students as well. While he had already developed a rapport with some kids within the Dallas School District, whom he coached for baseball and football, being an instructor for L.E.A.D. has opened the doors to work with those kids and more on a deeper level.

“As a teacher to the students, they get to see me in a different light,” said Officer Posten. “My involvement with L.E.A.D. has been nothing but positive.”

Getting to perform role-playing and skits, Officer Posten says, is one of the students’ favorite parts about the L.E.A.D. curriculum.

“I’ve been really pleased about how the students have reacted to these exercises in the L.E.A.D. curriculum,” he said. “They’ve taken it with full force, and their progress shows me how much they’re learning.”

Officer Posten says that some of the students he has for L.E.A.D. are now starting baseball season with him and, during practice, report which lessons they’re using outside of class.

“It’s incredibly fascinating to see how the kids are using tools I’ve taught them through L.E.A.D. in their everyday lives,” he said.

About L.E.A.D.

L.E.A.D. provides the leadership, resources and management to ensure law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with educators, community leaders, and families. L.E.A.D. succeeds by providing proven and effective programs to deter youth and adults from drug use, drug related crimes, bullying and violence. L.E.A.D. is committed to reinforcing the mutual respect, goodwill and relations between law enforcement and their communities. For more information, visit https://www.leadrugs.org/

WBRE TV News featured Officer Posten and the L.E.A.D Program during the Morning news casts on Thursday April 21st at 5:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 6:00 AM, and 6:30 AM. A link to the article & feature can be found here: WBRE TV Article.

Dallas Township Police K9 Unit Assisted Local Police Deparments

These vehicle searches took place over the course of one weekend in March 2022.

Safe Medication Disposal

Safe medication disposal box is now located at the front entrance of the Police Station. Residents can drop off medication Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM till 4:30 PM.

Steer Clear Law

The ‘Steer Clear’ law requires drivers to move over or slow down when they encounter an emergency scene, traffic stop or disabled vehicle. This law will help prevent injuries and save lives, but only if drivers follow the law and use common sense.

Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Law:

1. Duty of driver in emergency response areas.

When approaching or passing an emergency response area, a person, unless otherwise directed by an emergency service responder, shall:
(1) pass in a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency response area, if possible; or
(2) if passing in a nonadjacent lane is impossible, illegal or unsafe, pass the emergency response area at a careful and prudent reduced speed reasonable for safely passing the emergency response area.

Violators commit a summary offense. Penalties include a fine of up to $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and 1,000 for a third or subsequent offense. Repeat offenders may have their license suspended, and violators who cause bodily injury or the death of an emergency service provider face additional fines of up to $10,000. In addition, fines for several traffic violations are doubled when committed in an emergency response area when first responders are present.

Clearing off your vehicle

In the winter it is important to clear all snow and ice from your vehicle. Not only does it prevent a hazard from snow and ice that may fall from your vehicle, it also provides an unobstructed view.

Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Law:

1. Snow and ice dislodged or falling from moving vehicle.

When snow or ice is dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious bodily injury as defined in section 3742 (relating to accidents involving death or personal injury), the operator of the vehicle from which the snow or ice is dislodged or falls shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.

Your Headlights

When your wipers are on, your headlights are also required to be on.

Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Law:

1. Periods for requiring lighted lamps.
   (a) GENERAL RULE.-The operator of a vehicle upon a highway shall display the lighted head lamps and other lamps and illuminating devices required under this chapter for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles, at the following times:
   (1) Between sunset and sunrise.
   (2) Any time when the operator cannot discern a person or vehicle upon the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, including rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog, smoke or smog.
   (3) Any time when the vehicle’s windshield wipers are in continuous or intermittent use due to precipitation or atmospheric moisture, including rain, snow, sleet or mist.
   (b) SIGNAL LIGHTS.-Stop lights, turn signals and other signaling devices shall be lighted as prescribed in this title.
   (c) APPLICABILITY.-This section shall not apply to motorcycles.

Information from: https://www.psp.pa.gov/public-safety/Pages/Rules-of-the-Road.aspx