Ben has been with the Ross Township Police Department since 1997. In 1994 Ben graduated from Penn State University. He majored in Pre-Law but also received a minor in Labor Relations. He was the class treasurer for the Allegheny County Police Academy Basic Recruit Class of 1995 and his first job in law enforcement was with the Oakmont Borough Police Department where he served under the now retired Chief Robert Springer.

During his five years in the Patrol Division Ben received letters of commendation for his role in arrests for crimes including Robbery, Burglary, and Vehicle Theft and for his actions in handling situations ranging from negotiations with barricaded subjects to mentally disturbed persons. Ben was also one of the departments Field Training Officers and believes that an officer’s role as a teacher and mentor to new officers is one of the most important responsibilities any officer can have.

In 2001 Ben was one of the Officers from the department assigned to the Presidential Security Detail for then President Elect George W. Bush’s visit to the North Hills. Several weeks later Ben was assigned to the Detective Division of the Police Department where he now specializes in Major Crimes and Narcotics Investigations. In 2002 he received additional commendations for his role in solving 12 Burglaries/Attempted Burglaries and also for the arrest of a noted drug dealer who at the time of his arrest was in possession of close to 1,500 bags of heroin that had a street value of over $25,000.00. His education in the field of narcotics detection and prosecution has been enriched by attending various schools hosted by agencies including the Districts Attorneys Office, The DEA, Coast Guard, The Pennsylvania State Police and The Justice Department. He has a special interest in the collection of DNA evidence and the role of Forensic Science in the criminal prosecution. He has attended seminars and lectures on this and other forensic related topics by such renowned experts as Attorney Barry Scheck, Coroner Cyril Wecht and Criminalist Henry Lee.

Ben is also the department’s representative to the Middle Atlantic Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network.