Chief Lewis W. Sweigart, Jr. is the new chief of Penn State Brandywine Police and Security.

Chief Sweigart attended Eastern University and graduated in 1995.  After college he went to the Allentown Police Academy where he became a Pennsylvania certified police officer otherwise known as, ACT 120.

He then worked for the Pennsylvania Boat and Fish Commission.  Later, he worked for the Pennsylvania State Parks as a seasonal state park ranger and for the Pennsylvania State Capitol police in Harrisburg.

In 2003, Chief Sweigart began his Penn State career while working as a part-time police officer for Penn State Harrisburg.  He was hired full-time and began working for Penn State Mont Alto Police in 2009.   With ten years of service working for Penn State police departments, he was hired as Chief of Police for Penn State Brandywine Safety and Police Services this year.

His duties as Chief include running the police and security division of Penn State Brandywine.  Although he is the only police officer at this moment at Penn State Brandywine, he is currently looking to hire another full-time police officer.

Chief Sweigart is also looking to hire more Penn State security.

“I want to fade-out the current Allied Barton (the private security contractors that currently work at Penn State Brandywine) and hire Penn State staff for security,” Chief Sweigart said.

A current goal for the new chief is to make the campus safer with access cards on doors for certain areas in preparation for the future residence halls.

“My goal right now is to form and build the police department and bring us into compliance,”  Chief Sweigart said.

Chief Swigart has been a field training officer, firearms instructor and Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) instructor.  His office is located on the top floor of commons if anyone has any problems or concerns.

 

Eric Warner

Lion’s Eye Staff Editor, ehw5023@psu.edu