DeAntonio

A retired Altoona police sergeant and current school district police officer has announced he will run for magisterial district judge.

Dan DeAntonio, of Altoona, is seeking Magisterial District Jeffrey Auker’s seat, covering the Magisterial District 24-1-03, which spans from the city lines in Juniata to 12th Street.

“I believe that service to others is incumbent to us all, and I have spent the past 24 years working to better myself for the sake of others,” the 45-year-old DeAntonio said Monday.

DeAntonio, a father of three, began his service in 1993 as a law enforcement specialist with the U.S. Air Force, attending and receiving degrees in criminal justice and law enforcement from the Community College of the Air Force and Wayland Baptist University.

In 1998, DeAntonio began his career with the Altoona Police Department as a patrolman and rose to become corporal and later sergeant. In the four years before he retired in February 2015, DeAntonio served as the department’s magisterial district court liaison. He has worked with both the Blair County DUI Task Force and the Blair County Drug Task Force.

“I was responsible for attending nearly all summary traffic hearings totaling over 1,000 cases and later tasked with assisting with the disposition of over 750 cases while assigned to Central Court duties,” DeAntonio said. “This position gave me unique insight into the importance and complexity of the magisterial court.”

Currently, DeAntonio serves as “Officer Dan” as an Altoona Area School District police officer.

Citing hard work and perseverance as the reason for his success in the military and as a police officer, DeAntonio said his “philosophy and objective has always been to seek fairness within the bounds of the law and applicable legal issues.”

DeAntonio said he has had excellent working relationships with law enforcement and court personnel and said he has the temperament and attributes necessary for the position.

“Throughout my career as a police officer, I have always strived to be forthright, fair and courteous to all those whom I come in contact,” DeAntonio said. “I assure you I will be each of these qualities to the bench ensuring all judgments rendered will be well reasoned, impartial, just and fair to all concerned.”

DeAntonio joins Allegheny Township police officer Henry T. Fownes and former Logan Township police officer Bill T. Kudlawiec in the race for Auker’s seat.