Years ago, some people knew Dan Kline by a fake name when he rode with an outlaw motorcycle club as an undercover Pennsylvania State Police trooper.

Today, the son of former Hampton police Chief Chester Kline and the late Shirley Reed, Kline hopes to carry on the legacy of public service linked to his family name.

Kline, 50, of Richland is among nine candidates vying to become the Democrat or Republican nominee to replace Suzanne Blaschak as district judge for Hampton, Richland and West Deer. The primary is May 19. The top two vote-getters on the Republican and Democratic sides advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

Blaschak is not seeking re-election to her current job, which pays $88,290 per year.

Kline is a decorated former state police corporal. He started with the state police at age 22, served 25 years and retired at age 47 from the Beaver barracks.

He served five years in an undercover narcotics unit, and helped make arrests in a methamphetamine ring that operated from New York City, through Pennsylvania, and down to Florida, he said.

As a judge, Kline said, he would sentence young offenders to community service.

“When I get kids that make minor violations, instead of giving them a criminal record that's going to haunt them for the rest of their lives, they will be doing community service at one of three places they pick — either retirement villages, emergency medical services or volunteer fire departments,” Kline said.“I truly believe that communication and relationships with these young people are an excellent deterrent to future crimes.”

He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and the Community College of Allegheny County. He and his wife, the former Lisa Kletter, are state-certified foster parents. They have two sons, Patrick, 19, and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel, 21.

Deborah Deasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-772-6369.

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