As released by the Department of General Services:

Harrisburg – State General Services Secretary Sheri Phillips today thanked retiring Pennsylvania Capitol Police Superintendent Richard K. Shaffer for his 10 years of service to the commonwealth and announced the appointments of Joseph “Joe” M. Jacob to superintendent and Kevin Brown to deputy superintendent of the Capitol Police.

“Richard Shaffer has been diligent and committed to his responsibility of ensuring the safety of those who visit and work in the Capitol Complex and other state-owned buildings,” Phillips said. “His 10 years of service speak of accomplishment and a job well done. We wish him well in his retirement.”

Prior to his leadership role with the Pennsylvania Capitol Police, Shaffer served in various ranks, including chief, in the city of Harrisburg Police Department. His retirement is effective end of day on June 7.

Secretary Phillips also announced two new appointments to leadership roles within the Pennsylvania Capitol Police.

“I am pleased to announce the appointments of Joseph ‘Joe’ Jacob to superintendent and Kevin Brown to deputy superintendent of the Pennsylvania Capitol Police,” Phillips said. “Both of these individuals have the experience and leadership skills to move our force forward and continue to enhance the quality of services and protection provided by the men and women of our Capitol Police.”

Jacob, who has nearly 40 years of law enforcement experience, has been serving as deputy superintendent of the Pennsylvania Capitol Police since June 2012. His previous experience includes 39 years with the Wright Township Police Department, where he worked his way from the rank of officer to chief of police, where he served in that capacity for nearly 20 years before joining the Pennsylvania Capitol Police. Jacob has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Luzerne County Community College in Pennsylvania and is near completion of a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2001.

“I am grateful for the confidence the commonwealth has displayed in me by appointing me to lead the Pennsylvania Capitol Police,” Jacob said. “I look forward to the challenges of this position and will make every effort to ensure that the Pennsylvania Capitol Police are regarded as a leader in the law enforcement community.”

Brown has served as the administrative lieutenant for the Pennsylvania Capitol Police since April 2010 and is responsible for directing the investigative section, in addition to overseeing all the outposts and continuity of operations. Brown served in the Pennsylvania Capitol Police since 1999 where he worked his way from the rank of patrolman to administrative lieutenant. He began his career as a corrections officer in the Berks County Prison in 1987 after serving four years in the Army. Brown is currently pursuing a criminal justice degree through Temple University and is a candidate for the FBI’s National Academy.

The Pennsylvania Capitol Police is an accredited law enforcement agency with full arrest powers that investigates all reported crimes within its jurisdiction of state-owned properties and buildings in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Scranton therein. The force maintains a 24 hours a day/7 days a week presence in Harrisburg where they also provide assistance to the city of Harrisburg Police Department and other surrounding local law enforcement agencies.

Photo/Natalie Cake