Born in Allentown, Pa, and raised on a small farm in Danielsville in the Lehigh Valley, Todd Glass grew up in a family of seven children as the youngest of seven children. He attended schools in Northampton County, graduating from Northampton Area High School in 1980.
“After high school, I applied for some jobs and was hired to work at Muhlenberg College on the grounds crew. While I was there, I met a campus police officer named Richard Whittington. He was influential in inspiring me to pursue a career in law enforcement. We got to know one another, and he told me his stories, and told me I should think of considering law enforcement, that I had the attitude to become a great police officer. I knew that I had to go to the police academy which required me to attend from 8am-4pm daily for 16 months. I wanted to go full-time, so with his help I was hired on as security fire watch for every building, three rounds on night shift from 10pm to 6am. I would work my night shift and then go home and change to attend the police academy during the daytime. It was something I wanted to achieve, and I completed my training at the Allentown Police Academy in 18 weeks, graduating in 1990.”
After graduation, Todd applied for a job with the Muhlenberg College campus police, and was hired in 2000. He was married at the time and he and his wife decided that they did not want to live in the city. Instead, they found a home outside of Hamburg and commuted back and forth before applying for a job with Lower Heidelberg Township in 2001, where he was accepted and has served for the past 25 years.
“In 2022 part of my job with Lower Heidelberg Township was to serve as a School Resource Officer. Most of the time I was assigned to Wilson West and Green Valley where I would work on school patrol during school hours. When Chief Christopher Stouch wanted to put a new Resource Officer in the schools, I almost turned it down. He told me to take my time and think about it, and I decided that ‘Yes, I will do it.’ I thank God that I did because it has definitely been the highlight of my career!” he says.
2026 marks the end of Officer Todd Glass’s 36-year career in law enforcement; his service as a School Resource Officer ended at the conclusion of the school year, and with the Lower Heidelberg Police Force in December of 2026. Officer Glass reflects on the most rewarding aspects of his career which centered on his work within the schools.
“In working with the kids, I felt that I was making a difference. I could be out on the street, day in and day out, but as a school resource officer my main objective was to provide support outside of the classroom. All of the high-fives and fist bumps made me feel good, and when the kids would come to me with ‘I’m having a problem’, or ‘This is what I’m going through’ it felt good that they would reach out and talk to me. There were some problems at times but most of the time I liked being able to help them if I could.”
Todd Glass’s career in law enforcement has not been without its challenges. “Two things stick out; social media platforms and AI, and recruitment and retainment of new officers. It is increasingly harder to attract and retain officers, as new officers sometimes discover it is not what they signed up for. Since Covid there has been a real decline in applications for positions, when in prior years there would be 40 to 60 applications for every job opening.”
On the positive end of a career in law enforcement, Todd adds, “For any young person who is interested in law enforcement as a career, law enforcement is a tight knit community. When an emergency arises, we are working together and always there to help. We are a close-knit community of brothers and sisters.”
Another aspect of the career that he mentions to anyone considering it for their future, “One piece of advice if you become a police officer; you leave your work at the station and you do not bring it home to your wife and family. You learn how to separate it. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. We all need help in taking care of both aspects of ourselves and there is no shame in talking about it.”
With retirement right on the horizon, Officer Glass is ready to enjoy this season of his life with his wife of 30 years, Shari, and their three children and five grandchildren. “We have a motor home and season tickets to Penn State football games, where we tailgate at each home game. We plan to travel and we will pack up and throw the dog in the motor home, and where we end up, we end up; we want to see some things!”
Best wishes for many happy years enjoying your retirement, Officer Glass!
