2026: THE YEAR OF OUR 10/50 CELEBRATION

A YEAR OF ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

This year, the United States of America marks its 250th anniversary as a nation. Americans will celebrate this milestone in a big way this year. This experiment in democracy continues the traditions inspired by our Founding Fathers. We continue to strive to be a more perfect nation amid our current turbulent times. God continues to Bless this Nation!

On a more personal note, ON TARGET INVESTIGATION & CONSULTING, LLC and its owner, Dennis Eberly, will also mark major milestones in their journey this year. ON TARGET INVESTIGATION & CONSULTING, LLC was officially established in June of 2016 and marks its 10-year anniversary. In June of 1976 (the year of our nation’s Bicentennial Celebration), Dennis Eberly enlisted in the United States Air Force Security Police and began an enduring career path of service to the public.

THE ROOTS

At around 12 years of age, I had already decided my career path was taking me into the law enforcement profession. From somewhere in my DNA structure comes a passion to be of service to those in need. This service ethic was greatly strengthened by my involvement as a youth in Scouting. Service to others, our community, our nation, and our God are baseline principles which are grounded in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Scout Motto. As a teenager, I focused on experiences which would enhance my preparation to enter my eventual chosen profession.

In the 1970’s, there was a strong movement toward college education to prepare one to enter the law enforcement profession. At a time when it was more rare, divorce divided my family, and my mother was burdened with raising a teen-aged son by herself. Needless to say, the financial resources were not going to exist to fund my college education.

So, in my senior year of high school, I decided I would need a rich “uncle” to help fund my future educational endeavors. That uncle turned out to be “Uncle Sam” and his Vietnam Era GI Bill. I decided military enlistment would not only provide funds for college, but I could also garner valuable practical experience as well.

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SECURITY POLICE

Two weeks after graduating from high school in 1976, at the ripe old age of 17 years, I entered the USAF and underwent basic training that summer. After completing basic training, I attended the Security Police Academy and was an Honor Graduate from that program.

During my enlistment, I continuously sought out extra opportunities to round out my experience. I was a member of the base Emergency Services Team (EST). This team functioned the same as a civilian police SWAT or SERT team. I also served on the base Honor Guard, providing ceremonial services at various functions in the community.

I consistently tried to do the best job I could. As a result, I was selected as Airman-of-the-Month twice and NCO-of-the-Quarter once at the Squadron and Group levels. I earned an Associate Degree while serving full-time. I served in the USAF for a total of five years and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant. It was time for me to make the transition to civilian law enforcement.

EAST HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT

In 1981, I entered what would become a 33-year career in this growing Lancaster County (PA) police department. During my tenure, I would see it grow from a department of 12 sworn personnel to a department of 36 sworn personnel and 4 civilian personnel.

In my police academy class, I earned top scholastic and top overall standing recognition. Once I got “on the road,” I became a sponge, soaking up every bit of knowledge and experience I could get my hands on. After getting through field training (it was not officially named that back then) and getting about a year of experience under my belt, it was time to get back in the classroom, so I enrolled as a part-time student in the Criminal Justice program at York College of Pennsylvania.

About a year later, I garnered an assignment as a Criminal Investigator, where I gained additional valuable experience in investigations. After that stint, I returned to patrol for several years. In 1992, I was promoted to Sergeant and functioned as a patrol supervisor, a position I held until 2009.

Meanwhile, I continued my part-time educational endeavors. I was able to earn my B.S. degree in 1987 and an M.S. degree in 1992. After that, I attempted to tackle a D.Ed. degree in Adult Education. However, the grind of my full-time employment and family life wore me down to a point where I would not complete this goal. I was two research courses short of entering the candidacy stage of this program. I did not walk away with another diploma, but I learned a lot over the six years I engaged in this program. This was one of the rare instances in my life where I did not attain a goal I had set my sights upon.

By the 2000’s, I was a well worn veteran cop. The volume of traumatic experiences a cop faces during a full career usually makes its impact on one’s mental/emotional/physical well-being. The job tends to lose some of the luster it had when you were a rookie. At a time when I was feeling a bit stagnated in my chosen profession, I finally caught a new spark of enthusiasm when I was promoted to Lieutenant in 2009. During my tenure as part of the “Admin,” I served in two different command positions, Staff Services Supervisor and Operations Supervisor.

There is an old saying in the cop world - “You will know when it is time to go.” Finally, in 2014, I knew it was time to go and I retired from EHTPD after 33 years of service. I was looking for a new career direction.

NEXT STOP: SPOOKY NOOK SPORTS

Did I mention that I am a “Sheepdog?” Those who know, know. My next venture took me to the largest indoor sports complex in North America - Spooky Nook Sports Complex, right there within the boundaries of East Hempfield Township. I remembered this location when it was a warehouse for Armstrong Industries, a global enterprise which was headquartered in Lancaster County.

After the company vacated the property, it sat vacant & neglected for a few years. Eventually, the property was bought and renovated into a thriving location for people to engage in an extremely diverse offering of sports experiences. For a few years, it served as the home of the USA Field Hockey team. It also hosted a variety of tournaments, which regularly drew hundreds of participants and spectators to the facility from all over the East Coast.

So, my next opportunity for service involved part-time employment with the facility’s security department as an Armed Security Officer. With such a regular gathering of large crowds, instances of disturbances were an inherent part of the environment there. I worked there for several years, until the pandemic eventually took its toll and impacted the facility. It was time to move on to another adventure.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATION & SECURITY CONSULTING

Actually, I began my career as a Private Investigator / Security Consultant prior to beginning employment at Spooky Nook Sports. I received my Private Detective licensing and formed the LLC in 2016. I found business to be a bit lean early on and was focusing on trying to grow the business. Initially, the agency’s service area was only in Pennsylvania.

Re-locating my residency to Delaware in 2022 led to my licensing as a PI in that state in 2023, and offering services in both, Pennsylvania and Delaware. ON TARGET is now in its 10th year of business and the phone is now ringing more regularly with opportunities to provide service to private persons, attorneys/law firms, and other businesses.

Also, in 2026, my combined employment experiences have culminated in 50 years of providing service to the public. I find it difficult to believe it has been this long. With any luck and Blessings from Above, I will continue to provide services to people in need for a while yet. I am still not quite ready to be “put out to pasture.”

MARKING THE OCCASION

First, we have designed a special challenge coin to mark the 50 -year service career of the owner. Second, we are planning a ribbon-cutting event in May. This event is a joint venture with the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. Another ribbon-cutting is being scheduled with the Northern Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce in June.

Stay tuned for more details to follow soon. We look forward to celebrating!

“Professionalism Is Our Hallmark”