A photo of Dan Songer and his dad, each wearing the uniform of his respective police department, sits on a shelf in Songer’s office at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
They look serious in that photo — despite the younger Songer’s mustache and bug-eyed glasses popular in the 1980s — but the pride on both of their faces is palpable.
It’s fitting that the photo has a place of prominence in Songer’s office since his dad’s work in law enforcement helped to spark Songer’s own police career that has spanned 42 years, 20 as chief at Pitt-Bradford.
Songer’s days in law enforcement now are drawing to a close. His last day of work will be Jan. 6, 2017, when he will retire with the dual distinctions of being the longest-serving police officer in McKean County and the longest-serving police chief in the University of Pittsburgh system.
His interest in law enforcement was first piqued while riding along his dad, Eugene Songer, a captain in the Foster Township Police Department. When Songer married his wife, Cindy, in 1972, he was working part-time as a civilian dispatcher for the department and full-time at Dresser Manufacturing Co.
Songer didn’t want to spend his life working in the factory. When he got a chance to join his dad’s department as a part-time officer, he took it, working with his dad for two years before taking a full-time position in neighboring Bradford Township.
Once he started policing full-time, he knew he would do it for the rest of his career. Why? “I just wanted to help people,” he said. “I liked the idea of being there, keeping an eye on my community.”
He worked for Bradford Township until 1983, then moved to the Bradford City Police Department. A year later, in addition to working for the city, he started part-time at Pitt-Bradford. In 1996, he made what he called “the big leap” by taking the chief’s job at Pitt-Bradford when George Barron, his friend and mentor, retired.
At Pitt-Bradford, Songer realized the job was more complex, more than just policing. As chief he was responsible for the safety of the entire campus and lead campus-wide emergency drills to make sure everyone knew what to do in case of a fire, flood or manmade emergency. He was also part of a team that met weekly to discuss students of concern.
Songer didn’t know it at the time, but his dad planted the seed that eventually grew into his successful transition to and love of campus policing.
“I watched my dad work with kids, helping them get on the right track, and I wanted to do that, too.”
Songer had many opportunities on campus to follow his dad’s example. He’s worked closely with colleagues, mostly in the student affairs and counseling services offices, to make sure students on the wrong side of the law got the help they needed to move beyond their mistake.
Working on a small, close-knit campus also enabled him to connect with young people in ways he couldn’t before. For example, three mornings a week, Songer used to play basketball with Rick Frederick, professor of history, Michael Stuckart, associate professor emeritus of anthropology, and the late Tom Ackerman, magisterial district judge. Students would often join them.
Songer remembered one student — though he couldn’t conjure his name — whom he arrested for breaking a window in a residence hall while drunk and angry. Songer knew he had to arrest the student who was a criminal justice major.
“You have to be fair with kids, but you have to be firm.”
That young man is now a lawyer in Michigan.
“He came out OK. If you can help one person with something like that, it’s all worthwhile.”
Songer has many good stories to remember. He also admits he’s made mistakes. Despite them, he has no regrets.
“I would do this all again in a heartbeat.”
The only thought that gives him pause is that he often put the job first, which sometimes took time away from his family. However, his wife and daughters don’t remember it that way. When his girls had home Bradford High tennis matches, Songer would grab a portable police radio and be on “park patrol” — even though there was no such thing — so he could watch them play. During his shift, he’d stop home at 6 o’clock to have dinner with them, then stop by later in the evening to kiss his girls goodnight.
“Cindy and my girls always were my biggest supporters because they knew this was something I wanted to do.”
So, after 42 years of putting on a police uniform, what is he going to do when he wakes up on Saturday, Jan. 7, and he doesn’t have to?
He thinks he’s going to sleep in, though it probably won’t be past 8 o’clock. “That’s as late as I can do it.” He’s also anticipates turning off his cell phone for the first time.
As his retirement starts to unfold, Songer plans on traveling more with his wife to visit their girls and their families — Melanie lives in Pittsburgh; Karen is in Charles Town, W.Va. He’s considering spending winters in Myrtle Beach and would like to use the lifelong national parks pass he has.
He doesn’t think he’ll be bored, though he knows he’ll miss the work and the people. Fortunately, he lives a stone’s throw from campus, so getting together with his friends will be easy.
Songer soon will be packing up his office, which will include that photo of him and his dad. He cherishes the two years they worked for the same department.
“Working with him was great. He was a good cop.”
He hopes people remember him that way as well. “Hopefully, people will think I was compassionate.”
