In January 2008, Bruce A. Edwards was elected to his fourth consecutive term as President of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, representing more than 8,000 current and former State Police Troopers. President Edwards also earned the unanimous vote of all fifteen State Police Lodges of the Fraternal Order of Police. He is the twelfth department enlisted member to become president since 1962 when the original Conference of State Police Lodges was organized. He was first elected president in 2002 and previously served as Vice President of the PSTA from 2000-02.

President Edwards has also served the PSTA as a member of the Contract, Reports, Bylaws, Promotions and Evaluations committees; and chairmanships of both the Property Board and Scheduling Committee.

Since graduating from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy at Hershey in 1985, Edwards was stationed at Embreeville, Limerick, Jonestown, Hamburg and Reading Stations, and has served in patrol, crime and staff functions. He was promoted to Corporal in 1993 and Sergeant in 2002.

He began his career in law enforcement as a police officer with Malvern Borough, Chester County.

President Edwards first became a member of the Fraternal Order of Police in 1984 as a member of Chester County FOP Lodge #11. He later became a member of Robert D. Lapp Memorial Lodge #66 and Pioneer Lodge #37. Since 1989, he has been active in the Philip C. Melley Memorial Lodge #65 of the Reading Troop area, serving as both the Recording Secretary and Lodge President. He remains the immediate Past President and a Lodge Delegate.

Married to the former Carolyn Cronauer of Exton, Chester County, he resides with his family near Reading in Womelsdorf Borough, Berks County. They have two daughters, Aubrey and Melissa, and a son, Gregory.

President Edwards is a graduate of Upper Dublin Schools, Montgomery County and attended West Chester University, Chester County.

Joseph E. Sarkis - PSTA Vice President

Joseph enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police April 15, 1985. Upon graduation from the State Police Academy, he was assigned to Troop F Montoursville Patrol Unit. He was then transferred to Troop R in 1987 and assigned to Blooming Grove Patrol Unit. In 1990, he was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Unit, and then in 1991 he was transferred to Troop R Dunmore Criminal Investigation Unit. He was then assigned to the Troop R Polygraph Unit in 1993 and was promoted to Corporal in 1997.

Joseph was a member of FOP Lodge 49 from 1985 to 1987 and has been a member of FOP Lodge 46 from 1987 to present. He was elected President of FOP Lodge 46 in 1991 and served through 2007. Joseph is presently serving as Vice President of Lodge 46. Joseph has also served on the PSTA Work Scheduling Committee and PSTA Finance Committee, and now serves on the PSTA Disciplinary Committee and is Chairman of the PSTA Grievance Board. He was elected Vice President of the PSTA on January 27, 2004.

Joseph R. Kovel - PSTA Secretary

Joseph R. Kovel enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police on 2/24/92. Upon graduation he was assigned to the Troop “J” Embreeville Patrol Unit. In 1995 he transferred to the patrol unit in Troop “T” Bowmansville and then Troop “T” Everett. In 1996 he transferred to the patrol unit in Troop “G” Bedford. In 2002 he was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Unit Troop “G” McConnellsburg and that same year he transferred to the Criminal Investigation Unit Troop “G” Bedford.

Joseph was a member of Lodge 66 from 1992 to 1995. A member of Lodge 57 from 1995 to present. While in Lodge 57 he has held the offices of Conductor and Secretary and is currently serving as Lodge President. He has served on the PSTA Negotiation Committee and currently serves on the Discipline/EIP Committee and as Chairman of the Office Issues Committee. Elected PSTA Secretary in January of 2008.

Resides in Bedford County with his wife Michelle and their son, Mitchell and their daughter, Ashley.

Todd Rudy - PSTA Treasurer

Todd J. Rudy enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police February 24, 1992.  Upon graduation from the State Police Academy, he was assigned to Troop T Pocono and Newville.  In March of 1995 he transferred to Troop H where he was assigned to the patrol units in Chambersburg and Carlisle.  In January of 1998 he transferred to the Bureau of Drug Law Enforcement – Financial Investigations/Asset Forfeiture Unit.  In 2002 he was assigned to the Intelligence Unit with the Bureau of Drug Law Enforcement and in July 2003 the Central Interdiction Narcotics Unit was created and he was assigned to that unit.  Todd is currently assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Drug Law Enforcement Division – Central Interdiction Unit.  He is also a member of the Departments Clandestine Lab Response Team.

Todd is an instructor for the Department in the Areas of Narcotics Identification, Narcotics Interdiction and Club Drug.  He has been a First Aid and CPR instructor since 1994.  He is an eight year member of the Central Pennsylvania College Criminal Justice Review Board.  He has been a Top Gun Instructor for the Department for three years at the Northeast Counter Drug Training Center, Indiantown Gap and has been an Operator of the Mobile Command Post since August of 2000.

Todd has been President of F.O.P. Keystone Lodge #41 since 2002.  He has been a member of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association Board of Directors for over six years.  He was elected to the office of PSTA Treasurer in 2008.  Todd resides in Hampden Township, Cumberland County with his wife and daughter.