The Selective Enforcement Unit (SEU) is critical to keeping Lancaster City a safe place to live, work, and visit. Sergeant Tom Cole, who recently celebrated his 20th year of service, leads the unit of five officers as they use various methods in identifying and prosecuting street and mid-level drug dealing throughout the City. Much of their work ties into other investigations within Lancaster City and County including drug networks, homicides, shootings, robberies, and theft related crimes. These officers are selected based on their strong character, high work ethic, and tenacity in fighting crime.
The unit’s duties are not limited to investigations. Their weekly activities include speaking with their community about improving their neighborhood, testifying in court, attending and conducting trainings, following investigative leads, information sharing with other agencies, writing reports, completing casework, and assisting others within the department. These officers also each take on other duties including serving as members of the Special Emergency Response Team, the Use of Force Cadre, and conducting pre-employment background investigations. The unit has also become a trusted ally of the Lancaster County Drug Task Force, the PA Attorney General’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigations, among others. Their dedication to the success of the department and improvement of life in Lancaster City is obvious.
The achievements of SEU can also be attributed to the hard work of the countless other officers of the department who worked alongside them and shared information. A tremendous thank you and congratulations to SEU for their relentless pursuit of criminals.
Authors note: This unit functions under a full team mentality and are asked to perform undercover operations, which is why each officer’s name is not featured here.
SEU 2021 Year End Statistics:
- 183 people charged with crimes
- 965 Felony charges
- 688 of those being Delivery of a Controlled Substance or Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
- 104 Misdemeanor charges
- 9 residential search warrants
Seizures:
- 9 handguns
- 54.06 grams of heroin ($18,020 street value)
- 245.14 grams of cocaine ($24,514 street value)
- 1702.1 grams of marijuana ($17,021 street value)
- 340 grams of K2/synthetic ($3,400 street value)
- 120 grams of methamphetamine ($12,000 street value)
- 51 packets of Suboxone ($510 street value)
- 302 various prescription pills such as Oxycodone, Xanax, etc.