Keith W.

Merkel
8 Hayden Circle
Reading, pa. 19606
Home 610-370-4441
Cell 610-587-0472
kma037d4@westpost.net
KEITH.MERKEL@READINGPA.ORG
Qualifications Profile
Skills:
* 14+ Years in the automotive business as a parts department retail in house, an
d wholesale manager. I handled outside sales with the wholesale accounts. I spen
t many years developing a relationship with body shops all throughout Berks Coun
ty, 1984-1998.
* I have had 6+ years experience with a professional race team, as a pit crew me
mber 1984-1990.
* 9+ years as a Reading Police Officer patrol division, personally responsible f
or the recovery of more than 200 stolen vehicles on and off duty both occupied a
nd unoccupied. I have been responsible for 20+ stolen vehicle pursuits handled s
afely and with an arrest involved in 90% of them.
* I am able to read Vehicle Identification Numbers for country, model, engine, a
nd year of vehicles, a skill I learned in the automotive business.
* I am proficient with RMS reporting, searches, and the Crime Mapping program Ge
oSmart.net.
* I have tractor trailer driving experience for I drove for Schneider National C
arriers.
* I have basic Police phrase Spanish speaking skills.
* I spent the last 2+ years as a Criminal Investigator with the Pennsylvania Sta
te Police Auto Theft Task Force Central Unit, covering one third of Pa. My prima
ry function is the reduction of Auto Theft and Auto Insurance Fraud in the great
er Reading, Pa. area.
Education
* Exeter Township School district K-12 graduating in 1984.
* Berks County Vo-Tech East electronics training from 1981-1984 certificate of c
ompletion.
* Obtained my CDL with Schneider National Carriers Mt. Joy Vo-tech in 1989 for O
TR tractor trailer driving.
* Certification with Chrysler Corporation training for dealership parts departme
nt management I,II,III, & IV. Wholesale parts sales, and parts department accoun
ting.
* With Mazda Corporation I completed certification in master parts I, II, & III,
including T.O.P. performance wholesale sales. (Made up of four courses).
* (MNI) Mike Nichols Inc. inventory management schools I & II.
* While with Chrysler Corporation I obtained certification in Bell and Howell el
ectronic retrieval systems.
* Certified in less than lethal, Reading Police Academy.
* Certified in Taser operation, Reading Police Academy.
* Certified as a Field Training Officer by the Reading Police Academy.
* Completed Basic Spanish course Reading Police Academy.
* I was chosen by the State FOP to receive training with the Caliber Press Stree
t Survival Seminar.
* I am a member and have been to three IAATI (International Association of Auto
Theft Investigators) conferences over the past three years, where I have been to
30+ courses in Auto Theft/Fraud Investigation, surveillance, Motorcycle Theft e
tc.
* I am certified with SIRCHIE INC New Jersey in the operation of video equipped
surveillance vehicles.
Employment Experience
* Criminal Investigator with the Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Task Force
Central Unit Reading, Pa. 2007 to present.
* AFTO Patrolmen III. City of Reading Police Department Reading, Pa. 19601, 1998
 to 2007.
* Parts Department Manager Lindgren Chrysler Plymouth Mazda Inc. Reading, Pa. 19
607, 1989 to 1998.
* Over The Road coast to coast truck driver for Schneider National Carriers Gree
n Bay Wi., 1989 to 1989.
* Parts Department Manager County Chrysler Dodge Inc. Hamburg, Pa. 1987 to 1989.
* Parts counter person Lindgren Chrysler Plymouth Mazda Inc. Reading, Pa. 19607,
1984 to 1987.
Achievements /Awards
* I have been awarded with a Bureau Commendation blue bar for my involvement in
a shooting incident between a suspect and Police. One of four officers to receiv
e the award for the incident. The suspect was taken into custody.
* I also received another bureau commendation gold star for a pursuit of armed s
uspects in a stolen Honda Accord who had shot a male earlier in the same evening
, which traveled through four jurisdictions ending in arrest of all (3) suspects
in the vehicle and seizing two stolen weapons, the vehicle, and several illegal
drugs.
* Awarded the (5) year good conduct bar.
* Awarded the (10) year good conduct bar.
* Awarded the community service bar for my work with Berks Women in Crisis.