The State College Police Department has named its new police chief. Joseph Merrill, a native of State College, who served as police chief in Altoona, will be sworn in on January 5th. Merrill, served as Chief of Police for the city of Altoona since 2021, and then was sworn in to serve as the city’s interim manager for several months following the 2024 retirement of Omar Strohm. Merrill be succeeding the retiring John Gardner.
Wednesday 1st April 2026
