History of the Cheltenham Township Police Department: 1903-2015

    • Prior to the early 1900’s, Police Departments in rural Montgomery County did not exist. Prior to 1900,  constables and private watchmen were hired to protect the estates in rural Abington and Cheltenham Townships
    • In 1887, Citizens from Abington and Cheltenham formed a joint “Anti-Tramp Association”. They hired 5 constables armed with clubs to patrol the area.
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  • Private Watchman’s Badge

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  • On February 17, 1903, it was resolved that:

    “The Commissioners establish a police force for the Township of Cheltenham, and that the President be, and he is hereby authorized and instructed to employ in his discretion a suitable Chief of Police at the earliest possible time, and additional officers, not to exceed seven in number, and provide their necessary equipment as mounted police.”

  • Chief John Saddington Served From 03/07/ 1903 to 04/01/1907

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  • The Cheltenham Police Department was created on March 7th, 1903

    • In organizing the Department, Chief Saddington began building the Police Department by recommending the appointment of 7 patrol officers to be mounted, at a salary of $12.50 a week ($50.00 per month).

  • CHELTENHAM POLICE 1905-1907

    • The Police Department under Chief Saddington began to purchase additional horses and equipment to outfit his Officers.
    • In 1905, he requested an extension line be ran to his house so he could be reached “at all times”.
    • Chief Saddington requested a horse and a two wheel vehicle to get him around the Township.
    • He recommended that the Township be broken up into 7 districts for policing purposes.
    • His beat plan stayed in effect with little or no change until 1973.

  • Cheltenham Police Circa 1905

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  • Changing Of The Guard

    • On April 1, 1907, Saddington resigned as Chief of Police, closing the history on our founding Chief.
    • He was replaced by J.S. Garwood, who lasted approximately three weeks, and was replaced by Officer Morris who was made the acting Chief of Police.

  • Change in Leadership

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    • On April 1st, 1907, Officer Morris was named Acting Chief of Police and served until a new Chief was appointed.
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    • On May 1st, 1907, Chief Lindsay was appointed to lead the Cheltenham Police Department.

  • Chief Robert Lindsay Served as Chief from May 1st, 1907 to Dec. 5th, 1912

    • Under Chief Lindsay’s watch the Department continued to expand.
    • He requested and purchased horses, handcuffs, whistles, and clubs for the department.
    • He added the rank of Sergeant to the department and added photography equipment to the police inventory.
    • Chief Lindsay took great steps to improve the efficiency of the Department.
    • He installed a call box system at strategic locations in the Township.
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  • Chief Jens K. Jensen Served from Dec. 5th, 1912 to Feb. 28th, 1914

    • Chief Jensen increased the size of the Department to 17 members.
    • He added the rank of Lieutenant to his staff, and put the Lt. in charge of all investigative work for the Department .
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  • Chief Gideon Lever Served From March 1st, 1914 to May 2nd, 1916

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    • Chief Lever pushed for a more professional and disciplined organization.
    • He mechanized the Department away from use of horses.
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  • Commonwealth v. Decker

    Chief Lever became famous in the criminal justice world in 1915, for being the first to ever win a criminal conviction in Pennsylvania based largely on using fingerprint evidence.

    According to Kennedy:

    “…In fall 1915, a burglary occurred at the Wyncote home of John Taylor. The value of the stolen items was put at $900. Gideon Lever, Chief of Police in Cheltenham Township and a student of the science of fingerprinting, was the chief investigating officer.”

  • Chief Theo Hallowell Served from 1916 to 1956

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  • OFFICER EDGAR L. PETERSON

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    On March 3rd, 1946 Cheltenham Police Officer Edgar L. Peterson, Died In The Line Of Duty as a result of injuries he sustained when his Patrol Car crashed in the 300 block of Glenside Ave.

  • On May 13th, 2008, Cheltenham Township Police Officer Edgar L. Peterson’s name was added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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  • Chief Clarence Johnson Served from 1956 to 1971

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  • Cheltenham Police Motor Bandits Circa 1962

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  • Chief Johnson’s Police Department in 1964

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  • Cheltenham Police Fleet Circa 1964

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  • Chief Warren “Skip” Harner Served From 1971 to 1979

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    • Under Chief Harner’s Administration the Department’s Canine Corp was created in 1976.
    • He Instituted a “Community Relations Officer” program, the forerunner for our modern day Community Policing Unit.
    • CPD Hosted the “Old York Road Police Training School” here in Cheltenham, our Department became the training site for Police in Eastern Montgomery County, PA .
    • Chief Harner opened the door for women in the Cheltenham Police Department.
    • In September 1976, Chief Harner added Officer Deborah Goss to the Police Force.

  • Chief Stephen Ott Served from 1980 to 2001

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    • Under Chief Ott, the Department instituted the current 12 hour shift work schedule.
    • Instituted our School Resource Officer Program.
    • Chief Ott was very active in the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, and served as President for many years.

  • Chief John Scholly Served from 2001 to 2003

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  • Acting Chief Edward Black Served from 2003 until 2004 

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  • Chief John J. Norris Chief of Police 2004 to Present

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  • Cheltenham Police Department 2006

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  • Cheltenham Police Department 2009

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  • Cheltenham Police Department Fleet 2015

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  • Cheltenham Police K9 Unit

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  • Cheltenham Police Department SWAT TEAM 2009

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  • Cheltenham Police Department Bike Unit 2009

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  • Cheltenham Police Department

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  • Cheltenham Police 2015 Mission Statement

    “The mission of the Cheltenham PD is to work in a partnership with our community in seeking out and solving problems in order to enhance our quality of life. We are committed to preserving the peace and protecting the lives, property and rights of all persons through professional proactive policing strategies.”

    • Today, we have a total of 73 sworn Police Officers.
    • We are the third largest Municipal Police Department in Montgomery County, PA.
    • Technology has moved our Department into the modern age of Policing, and much has changed since our inception.

    However, the basic nature of the police mission remains unchanged: unfailing service, twenty four hours a day, every day of the year, protecting the lives, property and rights of all citizens within the Police Department’s jurisdiction.

    Sources:

    • “History of the Cheltenham Police Department” by retired Deputy Chief of Police Edward Black Jr.
    • Joseph Kennedy, Philadelphia Inquirer Article 1998, citing information from the 1983 book “Montgomery County, the Second Hundred Years”.
    • Cheltenham Township Police Achieves.

Provided by: Sergeant John P. Slavin

For more information, please visit: http://www.cheltenhamtownship.org

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