West Hills Regional Police

“Proudly serving Westmont, Brownstown, and Southmont Boroughs, and Lower Yoder Township.”
Police Office Hours: 8:30 – 4:30 Monday to Friday police1-300x226

Residents are strongly encouraged to contact the Police if they are in need of Police Assistance or to report any suspicious activities. Callers are advised to dial 9-1-1 if there is an emergency. 
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Chief: William Newman II (B.J.) The WHRPC appointed William (B.J.) Newman as Chief of Police effective February 2, 2024.  Chief Newman has served as a law enforcement officer for the last 23 years and has served as a West Hills Regional Police Officer on a part-time basis since 2018.
Detective Sergeant: Dean West SGT Dean West is the Criminal Investigator of WHRP. He has served the Department since 1995 and was appointed Detective in May of 2021 and promoted to Detective Sergeant on January 1, 2022.
Patrol Sergeant:  Thomas L. Dowdell SGT Thomas Dowdell began his career with the West Hills Regional Police Department as a part-time officer in February of 1995.  He became a full-time officer in January of 2001 and was then promoted to Patrol Sergeant in August of 2023.  He will now be responsible for the activities of the Patrol Division.
Administrative Assistant: Judith A. Fetcko  
History:The West Hills Regional Police Department began operation in 1978 when Westmont and Brownstown Boroughs formed the West Hills Regional Police Commission. Since that time, the Department has expanded, with Southmont and Lower Yoder Township becoming members of the Commission. The Police Commission meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in Westmont Borough Council Chambers. The meetings are open to the public and residents from all four member municipalities are encouraged to attend.

The West Hills Police proudly serve the residents of Westmont Borough and other member municipalities. They take great pride in the number of cases that have been solved as a result of the diligent and superior investigative work done by the Criminal Investigator and Officers. The Police Commission has grown and prospered because of the cooperation and support of the participating municipalities.

The West Hills Regional Police Department is located at the rear of the Westmont Borough Building at 1000 Luzerne Street.  The Department is also staffed by an additional eight full-time officers and thirteen part-time officers, who provide 24/7 coverage of the municipalities that comprise the West Hills Regional Police Commission.

Training and Public Relations:
All West Hills police officers receive annual mandatory in-service training. Certain Officers have also received training in specific fields, including crisis intervention, violence against women, truck inspections, crime prevention specialties, DUI detection and weaponry. Two full-time Officers are members of the Cambria County Specialized Emergency Response Team (SERT) and participate in training exercises two days each month. The Department has a radar trailer that is set up in high-speed areas periodically, during summer months, in the various member municipalities to identify and deter speeders.

West Hills Officers are available to give presentations at schools, churches and to any group that would request that service. Please call the Police Office to schedule an Officer. The Crime Prevention Officer is also available to come to a resident’s home, upon request, to check the property and make recommendations about how the residence can be made more secure.