Patrolman Eckels was hired by the Ross Township Police Department in October of 2000 and is currently assigned to the Patrol Division's 4 pm to midnight shift. Patrolman Eckels maintains a dual assignment to the Armory Unit as an armorer and is designated as the senior firearms instructor and sniper for the department. Patrolman Eckels is also a member of the department's Ceremonial Unit.

Patrolman Eckels was born and raised in Washington Co. Pennsylvania and is a 1988 graduate of Trinity High School. Upon graduation, Patrolman Eckels joined the Marine Corps, where he served in various theaters throughout the globe. During the 1991 Gulf War, Corporal Eckels served in Iraq as an infantryman with Company F, 2'nd. Battalion, 8'th. Marines. At the end of his active duty service, Patrolman Eckels studied at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Criminology. During this time, Patrolman Eckels continued serving his country and was promoted to Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserves. Sergeant Eckels served as an infantry platoon sergeant with Company K, 3'rd. Battalion, 25'th. Marines.

In 1996, Patrolman Eckels attended the Municipal Police Officers Academy in Indiana, PA. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and worked as a Corrections Officer in the State Correctional Institution at Greene, in Waynesburg, PA. While attending the Corrections Officer Academy in Elizabethtown, PA, Patrolman Eckels received the Academy's "Top Gun" award for shooting the only perfect score in his cadet class.

Patrolman Eckels was later hired by the Montgomery County Maryland Police Department and attended the Montogomery County Police Academy in Rockville, Maryland. In May of 1997, Patrolman Eckels again changed locations and was hired by the City of Latrobe Police Department in Latrobe, PA. While in Latrobe, Patrolman Eckels worked as a patrol officer and was assigned as an armorer and sniper with Latrobe's Tactical Response Team. Patrolman Eckels has attended various schools and seminars throughout his police career, including the FBI's sniper course. Patrolman Eckels is also a certified Glock Advanced Armorer, and is an NRA certified handgun, shotgun and patrol rifle instructor. In 2002, Patrolman Eckels received his certification as a Less Than Lethal Weapons Instructor from Team NMP. Patrolman Eckels has also received recognition and various letters of commendation for his service during both his military and police careers.