PENN HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT
RECOGNIZES POLICE CHIEF HOWARD
BURTON’S 50 YEARS ON THE JOB. BY W.B. FRESA
S
tarting his new job as a patrolman on St. Patrick’s
Day 1969 could have been a trial by fire as the
holiday’s association with alcohol is notorious in law
enforcement circles.
But as Penn Hills Police Chief Howard Burton looks back on
that day, after 50 years of service, he still can’t believe his luck.
“I’m not retiring for two more years,” says Chief Burton with
a laugh. “But the department has made some announcements
about my milestone tenure, so I understand the inquiries.”
Burton has spent his entire law enforcement career serving
in the Penn Hills Police Department (PHPD). Previously, he
worked a few years on both sides of a two-year active Navy stint
before taking a test to see if he qualified to be a police officer. “It
wasn’t anything I was looking for, but after seeing an ad for open
positions, I took the test and passed,” Burton recalls.
“After two weeks of training, I was on the job. I was 21,
ready to hit the streets and my attitude was probably one of
rose‑colored glasses. I wanted to help everyone and change the
world. After all, it was 1969. There was quite a bit of tension
between civilians and the police during that time, even here in
the Pittsburgh area. My outlook has changed over time though,
as I’ve gained experience and moved through the ranks of the
department.”
Fifty years ago, to become a Penn Hills police officer,
there was no six-month police academy or technology and
immediacy of communication that officers have today.
“It was quite different,” describes Burton. “When I was a
patrolman, once I left my vehicle, I was out of communication
with anyone at base. I had no means to contact someone for
backup or support. It’s crazy to think of working that way now.
The officers we hire currently are so savvy with technology.
They’ve been using cell phones and the internet their whole
lives and they pick things up very quickly. It’s really fantastic.”
New technology introduced over the years along with his
advancement through the PHPD not only prompted Chief
Burton to change and learn with the times, it also pushed him
to earn his master’s degree in administration of justice from the
University of Pittsburgh in 1979. He then went on to receive
advanced training at the FBI National Academy in Quantico,
Va., in 1994.
“It only took me 10 years of night school to earn my degree,”
says Burton, laughing. “But I did it.” And through the ranks he
went. In his first 30 years at PHPD he served as a patrolman,
detective, sergeant, lieutenant and acting police chief. “I was
hired into my current role as the police chief by former Penn
Hills Mayor Bill DeSantis in May 1999. I’ve been the chief ever
since and I really like what I do.”
As chief of police, it’s Burton’s job to ensure that all 53 officers
have the necessary tools and training to answer the more than
15,000 calls that come in each year.
“Our officers recently received body cameras, which enable
them to accurately record the calls they respond to so there is
no confusion about what actually happened,” Burton explains.
“We provide the best training within our budget and, because
we receive so few complaints from civilians, I think it helps to
show we’re doing a pretty good job. The officers handle a lot
of domestic and property disputes and there are times where
things can get out of hand. The technology we use, along with
the training to deal with people-related disputes, leads to our
success rate. Because at the end of the day, this is still a job
about helping people.”
In his remaining two years as chief of police, Burton plans
to keep moving ahead and leading the department through
technology upgrades, process changes and tight budgets.
Afterward, he may teach online law enforcement classes, but for
sure he’ll be spending more time with his wife of 46 years, Lin.
“She’s been so supportive of my career and has seen me
through my share of difficult cases and on-the-job scuffles over
the years,” says Burton. “It will be nice to have quality time
together. She’s done an excellent job raising our two children
while I worked and attended night school. Our daughter, Dawn
Nicole, is a high school math teacher in the Pittsburgh area, and
our son, Ross Eric, is a data scientist in Washington, D.C.”
Chief Burton has every confidence in the men and women
policing Penn Hills. “These youngsters are good,” he says.
“They’re bright and have good people skills, which is important
when you work in a diverse community. It empowers them on
the job and lets me know I’ve reached my goal of providing
them with the best possible training. And if I have to reflect
back, I can honestly say I have no regrets about my career.
Answering that ad so many years ago was one of the best
decisions I ever made, and I feel lucky to have been of service to
the people of Penn Hills.” n
PENN HILLS
❘
SUMMER 2019
15