Emmaus Detective Named Officer of Year

An Emmaus detective was recently named Officer of the Year by the Lehigh County Chiefs of Police Association and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, according to a press release from the Lehigh County DA's Office. 

Detective Jason B. Apgar accepted the award at the Lehigh County Chiefs of Police annual awards ceremony at DeSales University on Nov. 12, the release says.

Emmaus Police Chief David A. Faust recommended Apgar for the award. Apgar has been with Emmaus PD for 13 years, starting his career with the department as a patrol officer.

In recommending Apgar, Faust described him as a "seasoned police officer and an exceptional investigator and leader who resolved many serious crimes in the last several years."

Most recently, Apgar conducted a lengthy investigation into the victimization of 90-year-old Queen E. Hirsh who was conned out of $260,000 of her assets over two years. Ultimately three people -- including the former owner of the Emmaus Diner -- were found guilty of swindling the elderly woman, who died before the investigation was completed.

According to Faust's recommendation, Apgar also played a key role in the arrests of three armed men who robbed the KNBT Bank in downtown Emmaus on Dec. 30, 2011. The robbers had fired at least 10 shots at a borough patrol officer, the release says. At the jury trial, Apgar was qualified as an expert witness in forensic cellular phone examination.

Apgar has also been actively involved with the David M. Petzold Memorial Foundation and helped to develop and operate the David M. Petzold Digital Forensic Laboratory on the campus of DeSales University in honor of the Upper Saucon police officer. He also is an active member of the Pennsylvania State Police Southeast Computer Crimes Task Force.  

Apgar will soon complete his master’s degree in computer information technology and forensic technology at DeSales University.