CLEARFIELD – Lawrence Township has hired a new police chief, and as soon as he completes some final items at his current job, he will be joining the township department and start work.
Douglas J. Clark is currently a lieutenant with the Pennsylvania State Police, working out of Harrisburg with drug enforcement in charge of all undercover officers and uniformed interdiction officers in drug enforcement.
He is a 20-year resident of the South Park portion of Clearfield. Clark grew up in Murrysville and at age 18 joined the U.S. Army, serving with the 82nd Airborne.
After six years in the Army, he went to the State Police Academy and his first posting was at the Clearfield barracks.
“I’m very humbled to be selected to serve the citizens of Lawrence Township, and I look forward to the challenge,” Clark said in an interview after the meeting.
He said he has spent a long time working in drug enforcement and is looking forward to teaching local officers what he has learned to help combat the drug problem in Clearfield County, including working with other local departments. Officers need to know what they’re looking for, he noted.
The supervisors interviewed two individuals for the position, Clark and Chuck Marshall, who is already an officer with the township police.
Supervisor Bill Lawhead said both applications were good and Supervisor Randy Powell added that it was a tough decision, and there were many things the supervisors had to weigh.
Lawhead added that he didn’t want Marshall to think that the supervisors had anything against him or thought less of him.
He has been with the department for 18 years, and they are very happy with his work and hope he will be on hand to help Clark as he becomes accustomed to working in his new position.
Clark is filling the position left open by the retirement of Chief Mark Brooks. Officer James Glass has been serving as interim police chief.
