John A. Bacher III, 52, of Bigler Township, Madera, has announced his candidacy for Clearfield County Sheriff. A lifelong resident of Clearfield County, he graduated from the Moshannon Valley High School in 1978. He was trained and volunteered as an EMT and fireman for several local companies.
After graduation he worked in open pit mining as a heavy equipment operator and laborer. He then attended the Forbes Health System in Pittsburgh where he was trained and certified as a paramedic. He worked professionally as a paramedic prior to being hired as a municipal police officer for Decatur Township, Chester Hill and Osceola Mills Borough. Bacher received his police Act 120 from the Pennsylvania State Police Municipal Police Officer Training Board.
In 1985 Bacher enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police and graduated from the State Police Academy in Hershey. During his tenure, he was assigned to Troop F Montoursville and Milton, Troop G Lewistown, Huntington and Philipsburg, and Troop C Clearfield. In 1998 he was promoted to the rank of corporal and assigned to Troop P Towanda, Troop C Tionesta and Clearfield, and Troop G Philipsburg. He worked in various patrol units, criminal investigative units, vice and narcotic units, Region 4 Narcotic Strike Force, and the Troop G Tactical Narcotic Unit.
While assigned to the Narcotic Strike force, he worked with the Drug Enforcement Agency, DEA, cosigned and prosecuted criminal complaints with the FBI related to criminal drug activity, used informants and conducted hand to hand undercover drug buys, conducted undercover surveillance and wiretapping investigations, took part in the investigation and arrest of a corrupt district justice in the Pittsburgh area, worked with the National Guard in aerial reconnaissance and marijuana eradication, worked with the U.S. Secret Service on three presidential protection details, was trained in Operation S.H.I.E.L.D. (Safe Highways Initiative through Effective Law Enforcement and Detection), worked on several details resulting in the apprehension and seizures of interstate drug traffickers, worked with the Erie Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police Organized Crime Detail in the purchase of illegal firearms in the city of Erie (Operation Trigger Lock), and worked with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in the apprehension and deportation of illegal aliens. He has made countless misdemeanor and felony arrests with successful prosecution. He has testified in Manhattan, New York City, in a joint investigation with the NYPD relating to a carjacking and attempted homicide, and in federal court in Newark, NJ, in a joint operation with the New Jersey State Police and the FBI in a multistate investigation of a burglary and identity theft ring.
Bacher has received training in responding to domestic violence and strangulation investigations, criminal investigations, drug investigations including Top Gun Training, protecting soft targets including improvised explosive device investigations, interviewing and interrogation procedures, radiological monitoring, standardized field sobriety, vehicle weights and measures, wiretap and electronic surveillance, child abuse investigations, photo surveillance, incident command, medical response to terrorism, FAA certified in Washington Airspace, Night Vision Goggles, Aerial Reconnaissance, Basic Supervision and Command, Marijuana Eradication, Federal Assistance Investigators Course.
In 2003 Bacher graduated from Lock Haven University with an Associate’s degree in health care professions and in 2006 with an Associate of Science degree in nursing and licensure as a registered nurse. He is also a Nationally Registered Paramedic and a Federal Aviation Administration licensed commercial airplane pilot with an instrument rating and a commercial rated helicopter pilot. In 2010 Bacher retired with an honorable discharge from the Pennsylvania State Police. He has since been employed as a flight nurse, emergency department nurse, nursing supervisor and deputy coroner.
Bacher has received commendations for his response to the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, Camp Hill Prison Riots, Meritorious Service Award, Troop Commander Letter of Accommodations, and several laudatory supervisory notations. In 2002 he obtained a grant for a local fire company in amount of $84,000 and he took part in Troopers’ Gifts for Kids Program. Bacher is currently serving as president of WINGS of Clearfield flying club and acts a frequent guest speaker on his experiences in law enforcement and the medical field. He also teaches CPR to local ambulance services and Boy Scout Troops.
“I would like to honorably serve and protect the citizens of Clearfield County as your sheriff,” said Bacher. He will be listed on the Republican ballot and would appreciate your support. He can be reached at Bacher4sheriff@comcast.net.