Lansdale Police Dept. Has New Officer And She Was The 1st Civilian Recruit In 30 Years

LANSDALE, PA — The Lansdale Police Department has a new officer, and the individual's hiring was significant in that it represented the first time in 30 years that someone was brought aboard as a "civilian recruit," and not as an already certified law enforcement officer.

The department announced that its newest officer, Shannon Hauser, was sworn into office by Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert this week.

Hauser was hired by the police agency back in August of last year.

The department said that individuals who get to the hiring stage typically already have their Pennsylvania Act 120 police certification at the time of hiring, something that is required to become a sworn law enforcement officer.

Hauser, however, was hired and then went through Temple University's Municipal Police Academy as a full-time student beginning last September, according to the department.

Hauser ended up graduating on March 15, even serving as the valedictorian of her class.

As for her background, Hauser is a native of Warminster, Bucks County who studied criminal justice while attending Bloomsburg University and played on the women's soccer team, according to the department.

After being sworn into her position this week, Hauser is now in field training.

"We want to welcome Officer Hauser to the Lansdale Borough Police Department," the department wrote in a statement. "We are looking forward to her long and successful career."