CHIEF ERIC HARPSTER
Chief Harpster brings a robust background of over 36 years of law enforcement experience to his new role with North Allegheny’s Police Department. For the last 15 years, Chief Harpster was a task force officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Among his duties, Chief Harpster participated in Critical Incident/Active Shooter Response drills and training with federal and state authorities. Before joining the DEA, Chief Harpster worked with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police as a Narcotics Detective in the Violent Crimes and Firearms Unit. Additionally, he spent seven years with the Air National Guard Security Forces at the 171st Air Wing with a focus on base security.
Chief Harpster graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Criminology and continued his education in the Master’s in Education program at Robert Morris University. Throughout his professional career, Chief Harpster participated in numerous invaluable trainings, such as Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Characteristics of an Armed Subject, DEA Hidden and Concealed Compartment Training, DEA Advanced Hidden Concealed Compartment Training, and The Reed School of Investigative Interviewing and Advanced Interrogation.
Outside of work, Chief Harpster served as the varsity baseball assistant coach of North Catholic and as a youth sports coach for multiple teams.