Officer Sean Hart (Credit: Collegeville Borough)
Hart became a Collegeville police officer in July 2024
Officer Sean Hart grew up in the Mayfair neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. He attended Father Judge High School and graduated from Kutztown University, where he majored in journalism.
“From the time I was a junior in College, I wanted to be a cop,” said Hart.
He was influenced by his two uncles who were officers: an uncle who retired from the Lower Merion Police Department, and another uncle who currently is in the Philadelphia Police Department. Hart was drawn to both the community policing aspect of helping people and the unpredictability that comes with the job, knowing that every day would be different.
“After graduating from college, I applied to the Philadelphia Police Academy, but they were not taking on new recruits at the time due to a budget freeze. They cancelled the academy class I was set to join right before it was to begin. I got a job with Chrysler Financial. My job was to investigate where vehicles were that the company wanted to repossess if we could not prevent repossession, which was the ultimate goal. It was constant sleuthing and investigative work, which I enjoyed and did for about five (5) years,” Hart said.
At age 26, several years after the hiring freeze, Hart decided again to apply to the Philadelphia Police Department, going through the rigorous hiring process one more time.
"I completed the police academy training and then worked for the 22nd District where I walked a beat. I was then transferred to the 14th District, mostly in the Germantown area, where I spent the rest of my Philadelphia career. I spent approximately six years on tactical bike patrol. Our main objective was patrolling for illegal narcotics and firearms, but we would also deal with quality-of-life issues within the district, as well as maintaining a presence to deter crime before it occurs."
Hart said the bike patrol was also often called to manage protests within the city limits with little to no notice. Working at protests on a bike could really be demanding, arguably the most grueling part of bike patrol, he said.
“One specific incident, on routine bike patrol, I broke my hand trying to affect an arrest with an offender. Upon my return from injury, a newly revamped crime analyst position opened within the district. I expressed my interest and was offered a position which was both very rewarding but also very demanding," he said. "The main purpose of the position is to use all available resources to try and get ahead of crime before it happens, as well as prevent retaliatory incidents after an initial incident occurs."
Several of the shootings in the Germantown area are gang related, he said, and his job was to provide intelligence on them whenever possible.
"I would also track crimes such as stolen autos, theft from autos and package thefts, trying to determine if there was a pattern amongst the crimes and work with the other officers in making arrests," he said.
About nine years ago, Hart moved his family to the Collegeville area and really loved the small town feel. After giving his 15-year career in Philadelphia careful consideration and seeing that a position was opening up in Collegeville, he decided to apply.
“At the agility test, it felt like a bunch of 20-year-olds and me, at 41, vying for the open positions. But clearly it all worked out," he said.
Hart became a Collegeville police officer in July 2024.
Comparing Collegeville Policing to Philly Policing
“The most important thing I learned from my years of Philly policing is how to talk and how to listen,” said Hart. “When people need to call the police, it is rarely for a good reason or a happy reason. They are going through something difficult, and they need your help. In Philly, we often responded to calls concerning shootings, disturbances or drugs."
He said, in Collegeville, a major concern is victims, particularly the elderly, becoming victims of fraud or theft.
"The elderly are often taken advantage of by phone or e-mail scams. If the transfer is electronic, we may be able to help them get their money back. But if the customer initiates the transaction in person, it becomes far more difficult to be reimbursed," he said.
Collegeville, of course, is quieter and slower than Philly, but there are days when it can be busy here as well.
“In Collegeville, I have found that the police are appreciated here. Residents are always waving to us on patrol and striking up conversations. When we talk to residents, they often genuinely thank us for our service," he said. "When I introduce myself, I always say to call me Sean, as I feel that helps build trust and camaraderie with one another. I have been an officer here for a year. I truly love coming to work every day and I have full intentions on finishing out my policing career in the Collegeville Police Department.”
