MEET DUANE FISHER
PROVEN LEADERSHIP
DELIVERING RESULTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY
You probably remember Duane Fisher better as “Officer Duane”. Working as a police officer for Mt. Lebanon for over two decades, it was very common, if not expected, to see Officer Duane on a bicycle in the Memorial Day and Halloween parades or in the Main Park on the Fourth of July. Duane enjoyed spending as much time as possible out on two wheels in the community as he worked to keep our neighborhoods safe. Duane also helped design and present programs to our school age children about safe driving and the dangers of underage drinking.
Duane started his career in public safety at the age of seventeen. He worked and volunteered in the field while he obtained his degree in biological sciences from York College of Pennsylvania in 1992. After college, he continued to both volunteer and work in emergency services while putting his degree to work in various laboratories that focused on quality control, instrumental analysis, wet bench chemistry, and environmental compliance.
The call to public service remained strong with Duane and pushed him to attend the IUP Police Academy while continuing to both work full time in the lab, part time in emergency medical services, and volunteer with the fire department. In 1996, Duane graduated at the top of his session. Shortly thereafter, he accepted a part-time police position with the Jackson Township Police. He continued to keep all these irons in the fire until honored to accept a full-time police officer position in Mt. Lebanon. He optimistically moved west where he proudly pushed forward his career in public safety in his new home just south of Pittsburgh.
Duane had many memorable events in his career, one of which was delivering a baby in the front seat of a car on Washington Road in front of St. Bernard’s Church. Although he kept the parents calm and the baby safe through the situation, he would modestly tell you that mom was the one who really did all the work. Duane has had many roles within the police department, some of which include mentoring, evaluating, and when necessary: disciplining officers, overseeing day to day operations as well as critical incidents, and implementing administrative projects.
Understanding the importance of working together, Duane was tasked with the lead role and was integral in building a coalition of community members that included the schools, business, St. Clair hospital, and first responders among others to strategically identify hazards and reduce injuries and threats to life in the community. His effort led to Mt. Lebanon receiving accreditation by the National Safety Council in the Safe Community America program.
Duane was also instrumental in working with the Chief to ensure our most vulnerable community members were safe at home or at work. While overseeing the Support Services Division, three of the largest entities in the community; Mt. Lebanon School District St. Clair Hospital, and Asbury Heights, were all able to be trained and prepared for violent intruders, better known as A.L.I.C.E. (alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate).
In 2018, Duane was offered the position of Chief of Police in Allegheny Township where he had the opportunity to help initiate an expansive technology upgrade, serve on a countywide criminal justice advisory board, and continue to advocate for crisis intervention training to better prepare officers to respond appropriately in the field.
Although he started his life in Mt. Lebanon at the edge of Sunset Hills in 1998, Duane has lived in the Cedarhurst section of Mt. Lebanon since 2002. Many of the neighbors remember Duane walking and hiking all over Mt. Lebanon for 15 years with his pup, Sam. Now, Jake and Elwood are at his side as he strolls through places such as Robb Hollow and Twin Hills Parks. He still enjoys getting out on his mountain bike as much as possible too, but will always stop when he can to meet friends and catch some of a game at the Saloon. When the Steelers are in town, Duane and his father have made a tradition of attending almost every home game for the last 18 years.
Duane Fisher understands what is important to the people of Dormont and Mt. Lebanon because he has been there to help as an officer, as a neighbor, and as a friend. He has worked closely with members of both communities over the last 20 years. Duane’s vision for the District Magistrate remains rooted in community service and engagement, common sense solutions, and fair treatment for all in our judicial system.