He's still navigating the lay of the land, discovering where things are, getting his feet underneath him. Being familiar with Manheim Township was never a prerequisite for the job, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

Please acquaint yourself with Duane Fisher. Manheim Township's new top cop just wants to fit in.

Fisher is now a couple of months into his new duties as Township's chief of police. He took over those important responsibilities fittingly enough on Oct. 23 - 10-23 or "arrived on the scene" in law enforcement numerology.

"It's like drinking out of a firehose," said Fisher. "I'm still learning the nuances of how they do things and why they do things, and it's going to be an ongoing process. The biggest challenge right now is learning the geography. Everything's here. Whatever anyone needs, Township has it and it's all within 10 minutes. With all the space and all the amenities, it's such a nice blend."

Fisher came to Manheim Township after serving as the chief of the Allegheny Township Police Department in Westmoreland County. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Fisher holds a master's certificate in criminal justice from the University of Virginia, a master's degree in strategic leadership from Mountain State University and a bachelor's degree in biological science from York College.

But it may be his life experiences that make Fisher, who graduated from Dover High School, so well rounded.

"I'm not your standard police officer," said Fisher. "It's kind of like a calling that developed. I've embraced it as a career and a lifestyle, but I'm a real person. I've had experiences outside of police work. I have a very diverse background that helps me see things and understand where people are coming from. I don't want to be locked in the office. I want to be out in the community as much as possible."

As chief, Fisher oversees a force of 65 sworn officers and 18 civilian staff members. The second-largest police force in Lancaster County, Manheim Township provides law enforcement coverage to the 45,000 residents in Manheim Township and the 18,000 residents in Lancaster Township.

"Overall, the police department is in great shape," said Fisher. "The Manheim Township Police Department has always had a great reputation, and it's one of the reasons I came here. We want to be the vanguard in Lancaster County, if not central Pennsylvania. We want to look to improve the things we can to better serve the public. These are real men and women as well. We have a very talented group of individuals."

To protect and serve. It's a basic police principle that Fisher would like to see the Manheim Township police force bring to life.

"It's a nice catch phrase. ('Protect' and 'serve' are) two easy words to throw on the side of a car," said Fisher. "It's a good starting point, but you can take it beyond that. It's about reaching out and asking what we can do to make the community a better place. We're moving away from solving problems by simply making arrests. It's not the only solution. You want to help prevent people from putting themselves in bad positions."