EPHRATA, PA − July 30, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller held a secondary roundtable discussion of the current challenges emergency service and first responders are facing in their communities.
“We have heard a clear and consistent message from police and fire departments throughout the Commonwealth: they need public support and sufficient resources to recruit and retain new members. Hearing directly from those on the front lines is crucial to shape policies that are practical, responsive, and effective,” said Senator Miller. “Thank you to all the testifiers who shared their insights today, which will guide us in developing policies that will support those who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.”
“Supporting Lancaster’s first responders is a top priority for me,” said Senator Malone. “Hearing directly from our local police and fire departments about the challenges they face is the best way for lawmakers to understand how we can support them moving forward. I’m thankful to our Democratic Policy Chair, Senator Nick Miller, for hosting a discussion in Lancaster to spotlight our amazing local first responders and address the challenges they face with recruitment. These men and women do some of the most important work in our community. We need to make sure their departments have the resources and flexibility to recruit and retain the next generation of first responders to keep us safe.”
“I am proud to have participated in a crucial discussion about supporting our first responders,” said Senator Costa. “Having carried a badge myself, I am eager to make sure the Senate Democratic Caucus has the input of our officers as we deliver safe communities for every Pennsylvanian. I’m grateful for the contributions of Lancaster’s finest in our work, and I thank Senators Miller and Malone for hosting this roundtable.”
Chief Josh Kilgore from the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department stated programs like Camp Cadet are important to the youth and positively influencing them to join emergency service responders in the future.
“Programs like Camp Cadet are great, but why do kids want to go to these camps,” said Kilgore. “We need to create that want. I am a firm believer that it starts at home.”
Chief Chris McKim from the Ephrata Police Department emphasized the need for a change in policy, which includes the pension law.
“In many other states you can take your time and service to go to one agency to another,” said McKim. “This does two things: creates a desire in the officer to be marketable and maintain good skills and it also makes sure the municipality is offering the opportunity [to grow] in a department.”
Jerry Ozog, the Public Safety Specialist from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, spoke to his experience from a statewide perspective and challenges they are seeing.
“The challenges we are seeing in terms of recruitment and retention varies by demographic,” said Ozog. “If you go across the Northern tier of Pennsylvania, the population is declining a bit, and what that leads to is less people available to volunteer in some of those areas to be firefighters and EMTs. However, the growth of Pennsylvania, you see the fire departments and EMS use more and more. You see their call volume increase.”
Chief Darryl Keiser from Garden Spot Fire Rescue testified that recruitment should begin at a young age, but oftentimes, that comes with a sacrifice to our local emergency service responders.
“We push 14-year-olds to get involved and we get them in as juniors,” said Keiser. “Our members give up 325 vacation hours that they burn vacation so they can be at the cadet camp.”
Fire Chief John Kottmyer from East Hempfield Fire Company highlighted the cost of equipment that is increasing, and young volunteers are struggling to stay because of rising costs to living.
“The number of volunteers we had dwindled,” said Kottmyer. “The cost of an apparatus is phenomenal. Four years ago, we purchased a pumper, and we got a quote today of $430,000 more and I’m not sure how volunteer fire departments can ever compete with that in the future.”
State Fire Commissioner, Thomas Cook from the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner, stated recruitment is a very diverse problem and there is an opportunity to see what is working in different departments to bring success to those who are struggling.
“There is no silver bullet,” said Cook. “Our focus has been on identifying departments that are having success and how do we work with other departments to implement that program.”
Testifiers for today’s hearing included:
- Thomas Cook, State Fire Commissioner, Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner
- Jerry Ozog, Public Safety Specialist, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
- Jamie Rohrer, Fire Chief, East Petersburg Fire Company Station 23
- John Kottmyer, Fire Chief, East Hempfield Fire Company
- Josh Kilgore, Chief, Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department
- Chris McKim, Chief, Ephrata Police Department
- Eric S. Higgins, Chief, West Earl Township Police Department
- Darryl Keiser, Chief, Garden Spot Fire Rescue
Senator Nick Miller was elected Policy Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in December 2024. Today’s hearing was his eighth as Chair.
Footage of the hearing, as well as the written testimony of the panel, is available at PASenatorMiller.com/Policy. Photographs and downloadable video are available upon request.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats commitment to protecting our commonwealth’s healthcare needs and other legislative priorities at www.pasenate.com.
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