LANCASTER, N.Y. — Earlier this week the Lancaster Police Department celebrated the retirement of their chief. Chief William Karn, Jr., retired after 27 years with the Lancaster Police Department.
The police department posted the celebration and a history of Karn's time with the department on social media.
Karn, a graduate of Lancaster High School and the University at Buffalo School of Law, started working at the Lancaster Police Department in February 1996.
In 2012, Karn was promoted to Captain and oversaw the Detective Bureau until he was promoted to Police Chief in 2019.
"As chief, Karn added a police officer position, dispatcher, and School Resource Officer. He also authorized and helped develop the LPD Therapy Dog Program, School Liaison Program, and the Community Outreach Unit," the post read.
Karn also focused on training and served as an instructor of defensive tactics from 2001 to 2023. He is a NYS DCJS certified police instructor.
Outside of work, Karn is a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Earlier this week, it was also announced that Lancaster Police will receive funding to get body cameras.
They received the funding with the help from Assemblymember Monica Wallace (D-Lancaster). The money comes from a $10 million fund for municipal police departments to purchase body cameras.
Lancaster Police Department was awarded $96,000 for identifying the need to be more transparent with the public.
“For the last several years, the Lancaster Police Department has sought assistance in purchasing body cameras for our officers,” Karn said.
“We know that video recorded by police body cameras increases transparency, accountability, and trust between the community and its police department. The cameras help protect both the officers and citizens. This recent funding will help us meet our goal to obtain quality body cameras and allow us to better protect and serve the residents of Lancaster. We thank Assemblymember Wallace for her efforts to secure much-needed resources for our police department and other local first responders in our community.”
Lancaster has previously received funding for ballistic helmets, a new speed trailer, upgraded fingerprint collection technology, and an automated external defibrillator in every patrol vehicle.