THE MONTHLY MAYOR ROYER REPORT: APRIL 2026
By Robb Helfrick
Waynesboro Mayor Dade Royer discussed his latest efforts and local impressions during an office interview on April 1. Royer reflected on a variety of subjects and programs. That included charitable giving to improve public safety, the status of the police department, the upcoming America 250 celebration, and Royer shared memories of his father and the Waynesboro Tigers.
Waynesboro Police and Fire Foundation Completes First Project
The recently formed Waynesboro Police and Fire Foundation concluded its first successful fundraising campaign. The charity raised approximately $8600 for a new thermal camera for the Waynesboro Fire Department (WFD). “The community response has been very supportive,” Royer said. The raised funds were transferred to the borough, which purchased the equipment for WFD. The local firefighters’ union contributed to the fundraiser, as did the Eagles, Moose, Owls, and American Legion clubs.
Once the thermal camera is delivered, a ceremony will be held to celebrate the occasion. The next foundation goal is also related to public safety. Fire Chief Griffin intends to bring first-class fire training professionals to the borough. The foundation money raised to achieve this will allow WFD to share that expertise with fellow firefighting volunteers. Mayor Royer said donations are welcome from the public. However, at present, the town’s website does not have a portal yet to accept online contributions.
Police Department News
Mayor Royer reported encouraging staffing news after the borough’s latest efforts to recruit new officers. “We’re excited about the results,” he said. The Waynesboro Police Department (WPD) recruited for three open positions, made three offers, and all three were accepted. After some final background checks, this trio of recruits will attend Police Academy training starting in July.
Once they graduate in January, these new officers will need additional local training (for six months) with current WPD personnel. “That’s the challenge with recruiting, it’s such a long process,” Royer said.
Those hires will bring WPD staffing to 21 officers. “It’s the first time in a decade we’ve been fully staffed,” Royer said. He was also pleased that these new recruits all live in the Waynesboro area. “We want to hire the right people. When I sat down with Police Chief Ramsey, after I first became mayor, the highest priority was staffing- recruitment and retention.”
That goal will remain on Royer’s agenda, since he expects retirements within the force during the coming year. He envisions revisiting the hiring process before 2026 concludes. “You have to plan ahead to stay fully staffed,” he said.
That recent hiring success will help Mayor Royer and WPD to combat the distribution of illegal drugs. “The Franklin County Drug Task Force and our detectives have been working hard to battle drug trafficking and drug crime,” Royer said. “They do a great job. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes efforts associated with that, and it’s difficult and dangerous work.”
Royer promises to keep pushing on that front. “That’s one of my main focuses as mayor, to battle illegal drugs.” He mentioned a recent marijuana bust that seized several pounds of the substance. Royer stressed that all illegal drugs can have dangerous consequences within society. He recalled a murder in Franklin County within the past few years related to marijuana distribution. “To think there’s no violence associated with marijuana is not true.”
In other police department news, the borough will welcome a new police car that will be available for service by late April or early May. Funding for the vehicle was provided entirely by WellSpan. Royer said the cruiser has been purchased and is now being modified to become street-ready.
To also bolster the police department, the mayor reported that new body cameras were recently put into service, which were obtained at no cost through a partnership. “We’re very thankful for that,” Royer said. He added that updated weapons have also been delivered, and officers will partner with in-house trainers before they start carrying them.
America 250 Downtown Banners
“We wanted to do something special for the 250th anniversary,” Royer said, about an exciting downtown project already in motion. Seventy custom-made, full-color banners will hang on Main Street lampposts from June through November. Each will celebrate a theme of American history, ingenuity, or achievement, from local, state, and national perspectives. “There may not be another town in Pennsylvania, or even the country, that has custom banners like these,” Royer said.
This banner concept was conceived by Larry Selman, Greg Small, and Andy Smetzer, three local artists and graphic designers. They will create the artwork and manage the ambitious project. “The quality of their work is fantastic, they’ve knocked it out of the park,” Royer said with a smile. “It’s way beyond what I expected.”
Mayor Royer and the Borough Council encouraged this project and gave a formal go-ahead after the artists presented examples at the last council meeting. A public ceremony will celebrate the patriotic artwork when it’s installed this summer.
Recent Fire Department Promotions/State of Waynesboro’s Leadership
Recently, the Waynesboro Fire Department promoted two men to the position of lieutenant, a first-time designation within the WFD. Royer attended the ceremony at the Potomac Street fire station and commented on this new recognition for paid firefighters. “That was Chief Griffin’s idea,” Royer said. “He wanted to have more official leadership in the department, so he sat down with the council and worked out the program.”
After Police Chief Ramsey walked by the mayor’s office, and Royer greeted him with a wave, he offered a spontaneous assessment of Waynesboro’s leadership. “We are really blessed to have the staff we have right now,” Royer said. He praised Police Chief Ramsey and Fire Chief Griffin for excelling in their positions. “Jason Stains (the Borough Manager) does an awesome job, and we have a great town council. We have excellent leadership in place, pushing things forward in the right direction.”
Royer said there was healthy debate and discussion among the town’s leadership, but all showed selfless devotion to public service. He mentioned the renovation of the Northside Pool (overseen by Borough Mgr. Stains), which is the biggest project currently underway in the borough. That work is progressing on schedule. “We’re here to serve the people,” Royer said.
Around Town
Since taking office, Mayor Royer has spoken regularly with Waynesboro residents who share concerns or seek help with local issues. Royer said street-related problems are a common topic, and he takes those issues seriously. He often consults with the borough’s Street Committee or the police department to evaluate those issues.
Recent concerns include traffic noise on Main Street and speeding on local streets. “We’ve discussed options and work together for solutions,” Royer said. However, for speeders, municipal police departments suffer a disadvantage, since they can’t utilize radar detectors. “It limits our enforcement capabilities,” the mayor said. However, Royer noted that when speeding problems exist in certain areas, they will set up special police surveillance. He also said a new speed bump will be installed soon on Broad Street to combat speeding.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
A framed picture of the Waynesboro Tigers football team hangs in Mayor Royer’s office. His father, “Whitey” Royer, played on that team during the 1940s. When asked about that vintage photograph, the mayor smiled and shared some memories of his father and the Tigers.
“That group of guys came back from World War II, and they were strutting,’ Royer said. “The shops in town were cranking- Machine Company, Tool Company, and Frick Company- it was a boom time here. Many of those guys played for the Tigers- that team instilled a lot of pride in Waynesboro.”
Royer’s father served in the Army Air Corps, and even though he stopped playing semi-pro football before the mayor was born, Dade Royer grew up hearing Tigers stories. “They were some of my father’s fondest memories- he talked about the Tigers often. He relished playing for that team.”
Whitey played Defensive End and was an all-around athlete. He earlier won the county 100-yard dash and shotput championship, while competing in the same track meet- showing impressive versatility.
Years later, Whitey Royer was a Tigers Assistant Coach and took his son to games. “Up to 10,000 people would come watch them play at Fairview Avenue School,” Royer said. Mayor Royer was inspired by his father and played for the Tigers for a brief stint during the mid-1970s.
Dade Royer glanced at the Tigers’ picture hanging in his office, where an image of his late father is preserved with his teammates. “That photograph brings back a lot of fond memories. My father would have turned 100 this year.”
