DeLand Chief of Police Jason D. Umberger was born and raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  He began his career in police service with the Swatara Township Police Department on May 10, 1993.  He was promoted on June 11, 2011 as the 7^th Chief of Police in the history of the Swatara Township Police Department.

Chief Umberger retired from the Swatara Township Police Department on June 11, 2017 after 24 years of service.

Chief Umberger was hired by the City of DeLand Police Department and sworn in on June 12, 2017. 

Prior to becoming a police officer he was employed by Dauphin County where served as a Youth Program Specialist at the Woodside Juvenile Detention Center, a Juvenile Probation Officer and as an Adult Probation and Parole Officer.  Chief Umberger is honorably discharged from the United States Army Reserve and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.  

While employed by the Swatara Township Police Department he served in numerous assignments both in the uniformed patrol division and in criminal investigations.  In 1998, Chief Umberger was selected and assigned to the Dauphin County Drug Task Force.  In this capacity, Chief Umberger participated in numerous high profile drug investigations in conjunction with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. He conducted over 150 undercover operations in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry Counties. He also served in an assistant supervisory role to the Task Force Coordinator during his tenure at the Dauphin County Drug Task Force. In November 2001 Chief Umberger returned to the uniformed patrol division and served there until his promotion to Deputy Chief of Police on April 4, 2005. 

As Deputy Chief of Police he was responsible for the daily operation of the Police Department and commanded the Patrol Service Division and the Field Service Division. In addition he was responsible for policy writing, grant writing, managing the Department’s information technology systems, internal affairs, and served as Departmental PIO and Right to Know Law Officer.

Chief Umberger has received numerous awards throughout the course of his career to include:  Officer of the Year (2003), one Award of Merit, eight (8) Unit Platoon citations and two physical fitness awards.

Chief Umberger holds a B.A. from the University of Maryland in Criminal Justice and a Master’s of Public Administration from the Pennsylvania State University.  In addition, he is a 2008 graduate of the 261^st Session of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, the Pennsylvania State University’s 204^th Police Executive Management Development course and the 43^rd Advanced Police Executive Development course.  Chief Umberger has conducted training at the Municipal Police Academy and has taught undergraduate courses in Criminal Justice at the Harrisburg Area Community College.

Chief Umberger has served in several leadership capacities across the county, region and state.  He is the past Vice President of the Dauphin County Chiefs of Police Association from 2007-2010. He served as President of the Dauphin County Chiefs Association and was elected to his first term in January 2011. Chief Umberger has served on the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Legislative Committee representing the Central region of the state on important legislative matters impacting police services throughout the Commonwealth.  He also served on the Executive Board of The Central Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association appointed to that seat in 2010 and was elected to a 4 year term in 2011.  In addition, Chief Umberger was the Executive Officer of the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.E.).  He served as the South Central Task Force Coordinator for the Dauphin-Lebanon County Mobile Field Force Team from 2006-2012.  In addition, Chief Umberger served on Congressman Timothy Holden’s (17^th Congressional District) Service Academy Selection Committee from 2009-2012.

Chief Umberger is an avid reader of history and leadership books. He is active in his church and often works in various teaching and ministry assignments.  In his spare time he enjoys cross fit workouts and spending time with his family.