Eastern Center For Arts & Technology Names New Protective Services Instructor

WILLOW GROVE, PA — A veteran member of the Cheltenham Township Police Department in eastern Montgomery County has been named the new protective services instructor at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology.

Daniel Schaefer, who currently serves as a police sergeant in Cheltenham, will serve as the new protective services instructor beginning with the 2022-23 school year, according to Eastern, which offers specialized career programs for public school students in Abington, Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Hatboro, Horsham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland.

Schaefer is a veteran member of the Cheltenham police force, having held the positions of patrol officer, detective and now sergeant. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant back in the summer of 2015, according to the department.

"I have enjoyed by career in law enforcement, and I look forward to teaching students about the wide-ranging career opportunities in the protective services field," Schaefer said in a statement. "Instructing was a highlight in my police career, and I am excited for the opportunity to use my experiences to provide a valuable educational experience for Protective Services students at Eastern."

Students participating in the program learn things like police leadership, criminal and fire investigations, motor vehicle crash investigations, firefighting, handling of hazardous materials, emergency communications, and more, according to Eastern, whose campus is located in Willow Grove.

According to a bio provided by the school, Schaefer, who is also a volunteer firefighter with the Perkiomen Township Fire Company, holds many certifications from professional organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

He is also a certified firearms instructor for the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission, and he taught the course "Civilian Response to Active Shooter" for the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.

Schaefer also worked with youth in the Boy Scouts, teaching things like search and rescue, crime prevention, fingerprinting, emergency preparedness and other emergency skills, according to Eastern.