By Dan Sokil
The Reporter
HATFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. 鈥� A familiar building will have a new user soon.
Hatfield Township and VMSC 鈥� EMS announced plans for the ambulance agency to take over the police department鈥檚 School Road station once the town鈥檚 new police station opens.
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鈥淗atfield Township and VMSC Emergency Medical Services are proud to announce a new public partnership that will transform the current Hatfield Township Police Station into an administrative and logistics hub for VMSC once the township鈥檚 police department transitions to its new, state-of-the-art headquarters on Cowpath Road,鈥� the township and VMSC said in a joint statement.
鈥淭his collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to strengthening public safety, maximizing municipal resources, and continuing to deliver high-quality services to Hatfield residents. Through this partnership, VMSC will gain dedicated space to support its growing operations, enabling more efficient coordination and delivery of emergency medical services throughout the region,鈥� the township said.
VMSC is based on the campus of Lansdale Hospital in Hatfield and operates several ambulance dispatch substations throughout the region. In recent years, VMSC has partnered with similar ambulance corps and companies in the greater region as VMSC has shifted from an all-volunteer to a paid paramedic model.
Hatfield-based ambulance corps continues to expand
The news comes as construction nears completion on a new police station on Cowpath Road, which was discussed as far back as 2020, designed in 2022, plans unveiled in summer 2023, and ground broken in March 2024, with police and the department saying this spring that the station was on target to be completed this fall, allowing police to move out of their current station, a 1960s-era building on School Road adjacent to the township administration building and pool complex.
Rendering showing an aerial view of a planned new police station in Hatfield Township, with Cowpath Road at lower right, the new station building at right center, carports covered with solar panels at left, and a firing range at rear. (Image courtesy of Hatfield Township)
鈥淭o maintain the peaceful character of the surrounding neighborhood, the site will not be used for ambulance dispatching. Instead, the building will function as a strategic support center for VMSC personnel, housing administrative functions and logistical planning that are critical to the organization鈥檚 lifesaving mission,鈥� the township said.
鈥淭his is a great example of a public partnership designed to better serve our community,鈥� said Commissioners President Tom Zipfel. 鈥淲e are pleased to see this facility remain in use for the public good and to support the important mission of VMSC.鈥�
The repurposing of the current police station reflects a forward-thinking approach to municipal collaboration, assuring that community investments continue to provide long-term value, sustainability, and service to the residents of Hatfield, according to the township. A 13-page lease agreement approved by the commissioners Wednesday night and previously signed by VMSC sets an effective date of April 1, 2026, but allows the township to 鈥渄elay the commencement date until the police building is ready,鈥� specifies a 40-year term, and rent 鈥渋n the amount of $1 for the entirety of the term.鈥�
鈥淰MSC is grateful for Hatfield Township鈥檚 leadership and commitment to community partnership,鈥� said Shane Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer of VMSC. 鈥淭his opportunity allows us to strengthen our ability to serve the people of Hatfield and the surrounding region.鈥�
Work on the police station is still on track for opening this fall, and police will likely move in stages from the School Road station to the new Cowpath Road one as areas are ready, with an open house likely at the new station in spring 2026 and renovations at the School Road site likely to follow, with those renovations likely to be funded by a combination of VMSC funds and grants, according to township staff.
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