New school director speaks out against Derry Township Police cooperation with ICE

Update: Chief of Police disputes school board director’s ICE complaint

According to a new report by Drew Weidman at THE SUN, the Derry Township Chief of Police denies any knowledge of an ICE operation in the municipality, and he disputed allegations that the department has coordinated with ICE to make arrests. 

Hershey, Pennsylvania — During the most recent board of supervisors meeting on November 10, newly elected school board director Christine Strickler made a public statement criticizing the township police department.

Strickler said Derry Township Police are undermining public trust by cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. She spoke after her neighbor, Phillip Jerris, made a lengthy presentation of complaints about ICE. During his comments, Jerris alleged that immigration agents and township police have recently detained cooks who were working in two Hershey restaurants.

Strickler won an election for school board director on November 4 in the Derry Township School District with 5,202 votes. The board will reorganize the first week of December.

While speaking during the meeting, she said, “I just wanted to step up and reinforce that I think what’s happened recently in our community with the involvement of the Derry Township Police Department and immigration enforcement is concerning to me. I believe it transpires above and beyond a political issue and becomes a humanitarian issue, and an issue as to how we want our communities to operate.

“I would very much urge the board and our community to think very thoughtfully about the questions raised by Mr. Jerris. From my point of view, I think that law-enforcement is meant to protect and serve everyone in the community, but when police get involved unnecessarily in federal immigration operations, it undermines trust, diverts resources, and creates legal risk for the community.

“As we stood here today in the beginning of this meeting and said the Pledge of Allegiance, the words echoed in justice for all, and that includes everyone in the community. I would encourage us to think thoughtfully, and I look forward to the communities response to these questions. Thank you.”