Abington Township Police Department

2022 Annual Report

July 28, 2023

Message from the Chief

As law enforcement professionals, we continue to recover from the impact of the COVID Pandemic, civil unrest, and calls for criminal justice reform. As an organization, we witnessed an uptick in mental health emergencies, violent crime, retail thefts, firearms violations, and aggressive driving. We understand the complexities that contribute to these trends, and we know that we can arrest our way out of this. Programs like our “Bridge” and the “Hub” are now experiencing an increased caseload, and they have been successful in connecting our citizens with our professional partners in mental health and substance abuse social services. We know that we cannot arrest our way out of this, and we take pride in the results that we have witnessed.

We also know that public safety and law enforcement is the ultimate team sport, and we will not be successful in our mission if we do not remain committed to this philosophy. Since the murder of Georg Floyd, the civil unrest, and the sweeping bail and criminal justice reform, police agencies throughout the country have experienced major challenges with recruitment and retention of qualified officers. In cities like Philadelphia, this has become a crisis, as many of their most experienced officers are leaving the agency or the profession. Our success depends on the quality of officers that we recruit and retain, and this has been a challenge even for us who benefitted from the many experienced Philadelphia officers who have been appointed over the last few years. In 2019, for example, we had over six-hundred applicants, and our application pool steadily decreased each year with a total of 259 applicants this past year.

The Department has worked closely with our elected officials, the Township Administration, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the Abington School District, our major hospitals, educational institutions, and many others to promote public safety and improve the quality of life for all our citizens. We know that we cannot do this job properly without the support and consent of those we serve, and we work diligently to achieve this through our commitment to transparency and building trust.

As an organization, we remain committed to the highest level of professionalism for all our officers and professional support staff, ensuring that they have the knowledge, skills, training, and equipment necessary to protect and serve our citizens in a safe and efficient manner. This is accomplished through a rigorous and ongoing training program. In addition to the annual re-certification training mandated by Pennsylvania’s Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission, each officer is required to attend additional training and re-certification exercises. Combining theory and classroom studies with practical tests and exercises, our officers rotate through training sessions that include, but are not limited to: active-shooter response, firearms and weapons qualifications, legal updates on criminal case law, criminal procedures, search and seizure, biased based policing, ethics, victim’s rights, use of force, civil liability, domestic violence, de-escalation and managing of aggressive behavior techniques, dealing with the mentally ill, supervision, management, and leadership. Biased-based training, with an emphasis on fair and impartial policing, is an essential, annual, training module that officers complete. The department occasionally utilizes members from civilian entities to provide formal comprehensive training on this subject. The department also provides in-house training relating to the latest technologies, crime prevention techniques, community policing strategies, ethics and procedural justice, CPR/First Aid, and so many other topics on a regular basis.

Our officers routinely respond to critical incidents and complex calls for service, and this training is vital to ensuring that they handle these calls in a manner that reduces the risk of unnecessary injury to our officers and our citizens. Over the last year our Patrol officers handled several high-profile critical incidents that were resolved without having to use deadly force, and this can be attributed directly to our investment in a robust training program.

As in the past, Abington officers worked with regional task forces at the county and federal level, and we targeted violent organized criminal organizations who are dealing heroin and fentanyl in the Philadelphia region. We have successfully arrested and prosecuted major suppliers and removed deadly fentanyl-laced heroin and other illegal opioids from our streets. In addition, we have partnered with drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, Abington Jefferson Hospital, and other social service agencies to help provide treatment for those suffering from addiction. We know that the root cause of many criminal offenses continues to be attributed to those suffering from mental health and substance use disorders, and anything that we can do to help these individuals will positively impact the quality of life for all our citizens. We have been fortunate enough to receive grant funding to adopt the Co-Responder Program to include an additional staff member who is also a certified mental health and substance use disorder counselor. This will provide an opportunity to better serve our community in the future and keep those suffering from these disorders out of the criminal justice system.

As you read through this report, you will see the dedication and commitment of our officers, professional support personnel, and volunteers, while highlighting those achievements that contributed to another outstanding year of service. As your Chief, I am fully committed to the best practices of 21^st century policing with an emphasis on building trust and legitimacy. We are always looking for opportunities to improve operations and be more responsive to the needs of our Abington community. I hope you enjoy this report and I encourage you to contact us with any questions or suggestions. On behalf of all the men and women of the Abington Township Police Department, I want to thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Patrick Molloy, Chief of Police

Chain of Command

Chief Patrick Molloy leads the Abington Township Police Department with 92 dedicated sworn police officers under his command. Chief Molloy is also responsible for the 69 devoted civilian employees, both full and part-time, who perform various police support functions throughout the community and within the department.

Deputy Chief Chris Porter is the Administrative Division Commander. Some of Deputy Chief Porter’s responsibilities include the Police Department budget, hiring and recruiting of new officers.

Deputy Chief Ed Quinn is the Patrol Division Commander managing the daily functions and activities that are associated with everything patrol related.

Lt. Steve Fink is the Detective Division Commander. He has the overall responsibility of all the Police Departments investigations. Lt. Fink also coordinates all investigations with other agencies which include local, state and federal law enforcement organizations.

Lt. Kevin Magee is the Community Policing Division Commander. He is responsible for community outreach and programs including D.A.R.E, PAL and many others.

Mission & Values

Mission Statement

The members of the Abington Township Police Department will be guided by the values of our community and will faithfully perform their duties in accordance with the United States Constitution, the International Code of Police Ethics, and all federal, state and local laws.

Core Values

Chief Molloy instills the Core Values of P.R.I.D.E into the daily lives of all officers.

Professionalism

Respect

Integrity

Dedication

Esprit De Corps

Crime Statistics and Trends

Citizen Complaints

The integrity of the Abington Township Police Department depends on the personal integrity and discipline of all Department members. To a large degree, the public image of this Department is determined by the professional response of the Department to allegations of misconduct against it or its members. The Department must thoroughly and professionally investigate all citizen complaints against the Department and its members.

Abington Police Department’s procedures for handling citizen complaints are consistent with national standards to assure prompt investigation and response to all allegations. This process ensures that these issues are brought to the proper level of Department management and appropriately addressed to maintain a high level of integrity and instill public confidence. Complaint investigations result in one of the following dispositions: Sustained - Evidence sufficient to prove allegations. Not Sustained - Insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove allegations. This will include incidents where the complaint was not sustained, but the member’s conduct fell short of the prescribed norm. Exonerated - Incident occurred but was lawful or proper. Unfounded - Allegation is false or not factual.

In 2022, the Department processed 12 complaints. Four were Sustained, None were given a disposition of Not Sustained, two were Unfounded, and six were Exonerated

Major Crimes

Shootings

Several incidents of shootings and reckless firearms use occurred in 2022. On August 22, multiple shots were fired at a home in the 300 block of Meetinghouse Rd. The shots were fired by a suspect who was retaliating for an earlier dispute in Philadelphia. Detectives charged the shooter after an extensive investigation. On November 14, two groups of individuals engaged in a gun battle in the 1500 block of Prospect Ave. At least ten shots were fired, and one bullet entered a home. Detectives arrested two men for robbery of a firearm. On November 20, a suspect who was recording a rap video fired multiple rounds from a gun in the 2600 block of Mt. Carmel Ave. One of the rounds entered a nearby occupied home. The suspect was arrested and charged with firearms violations.

Arrest of juvenile suspect for multiple rapes

In January, 2022, a juvenile victim came forward to Abington Police Detectives, Special Victims Unit, and reported that she was raped by another juvenile, who was known to her. During the course of the investigation, an additional seven victims of rape by the same suspect were discovered. Some of the victims were fearful and hesitant to come forward. Detectives worked closely with the victims as they continued to develop evidence to prosecute the suspect. By August, 2022, the juvenile suspect was charged with eight counts of rape and sexual assault. He pled guilty and remains in custody.

Carjacking

On September 10, 2022, an 82-year-old man finished shopping at the Willow Grove Park Mall, and was walking through the parking lot towards his truck. He was approached from behind by two suspects, one of which struck him in the back of his head with a hard object. The suspects forced the victim to the ground and told him, “This is a hold up- give us all your money.” The suspects stole a gift that the victim had just purchased for his wife and the keys to his truck, and then fled the scene in the victim’s truck. A 17-year-old Philadelphia resident was arrested and charged with the carjacking.

Narcotics and weapons arrest

On December 21, 2022 an Abington officer was on patrol when he conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle displaying fraudulent registration. Additional investigation led to a search being conducted on the vehicle in question. Nearly one pound of marijuana was discovered inside of the vehicle, along with packaging consistent with narcotics distribution. The suspect, Luis Villacorta, was arrested and charged with narcotics violations, including Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance. Detectives conducted additional investigation that led them to an apartment in the 100 York apartment complex. A search warrant was obtained for the apartment and served on December 23, 2022. As a result of the search warrant, an additional one and a half pounds of marijuana, several thousand dollars in cash, and two handguns were seized. Villacorta is a felon not to possess a firearm.

Swatting/ Arson arrest

In December, 2021, an arson occurred at a home in the 600 block of Roslyn Ave. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the front of the house causing significant damage. Prior to this incident, there had been numerous ‘Swatting’ incidents targeting the same home, in which prank calls were made to 9-1-1 containing reports of violence in progress in an attempt to get SWAT teams deployed. A joint investigation with Abington Police and the FBI uncovered an elaborate underground network, operating on the dark web, which paid for ‘hitmen’ to target individuals who believed to have caused them harm. The case involved suspects in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, and even in other countries. In August, 2022, the FBI arrested a New Jersey man who was positively linked to the arson on Roslyn Ave.

Commendations & Recognition

The Abington Township Police Department expects a very high level of professional conduct from all employees; however, members of the department frequently perform their duties in a manner exceeding even the highest standards of the department. The official acknowledgment in the form of this awards system will provide full recognition to those who have brought honor to themselves and the Abington Township Police Department.

The following Commendations were awarded in 2022:

Life Saving Award - Awarded to that member who saves a human life during an emergency.

8 Awards

Class 3 Award -The Departmental Commendation for Performance

4 Awards

Class 4 Award -The Departmental Letter of Commendation

26 Awards

Class 5 Award -The Departmental Letter of Recognition

9 Awards

Class 6 Award - The Departmental Letter of Achievement

5 Awards

Unit Citation - Awarded to that unit for an outstanding accomplishment which was the result of teamwork rather than the efforts of a single member or members.

4 Awards

Staff Changes

Appointment of Deputy Chief Quinn

The Honorable Judge Kessler swore in newly appointed Deputy Chief Edward Quinn. Ed was born and raised in the Overbrook Section of Philadelphia and attended Archbishop Carroll High School and Saint Joseph’s University. Ed joined the Department in 1995 and, over the past 27 years, has served as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Patrol Division Sergeant, Platoon Lieutenant and most recently Patrol Division Commander. He also served on our tactical team, and supervised our crisis negotiation unit and field training officer program. Ed is a graduate of Northwestern University school of Police Staffing and Command Leadership and the FBI's Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. He resides in Abington with his wife and children, and is currently continuing his education at Wilmington University. We are so proud of his accomplishments and look forward to his new role within the department. Thank you and Congratulations, Deputy Chief Ed Quinn!

Retirement of Lt. Tom Scott, and his selection as Chief of Police in Jenkintown Borough

On behalf of all the men and women of the Abington Township Police Department who are presently serving and those who have served, I want to express my gratitude to Tom for his 25 years of honorable and dedicated service to our community and the men and women of the Department. It is also my honor to announce that Tom has been selected as the Chief of Police in Jenkintown Borough, marking the seventh member of APD’s Command staff who will go on to lead another organization. I want to congratulate Tom on his retirement and wish him only the best as he begins this next chapter of his life. We are proud of his achievement and know that in many ways, we will still be working with him to protect and serve the members of our respective communities. Abington’s loss is Jenkintown’s gain. May God bless and protect Tom and the men and women of his new Department. Chief Patrick Molloy

Retirement of Detective Rick Beaghley

On behalf of the men and women of the Abington Township Police Department, I would like to congratulate Detective Rick Beaghley on his retirement appointment as the newest Montgomery County Detective. Rick began his career of public service back in 1992 when he joined the United States Marine Corps, were he proudly defended our Nation for four years. After he was Honorably Discharged from the USMC, Rick was appointed to APD in August of 1996. Over the course of his 26 years, Detective Beaghley served honorably in both the Patrol and Detective Divisions. While in the Patrol Division, Rick was served as a Field Training Officer, Bike Unit Officer, and a member of the Montgomery County Narcotics Enforcement Team. During these years, Rick received numerous commendations for his officer-initiated investigations and his ability to coordinate resources that helped identify those responsible for organized crime and complex narcotics distribution rings. Because of this outstanding work as a Patrol Officer and his unique skills, Rick was appointed to the Special Investigations Unit within the Detective Division in 2007. During his time in SIU, Rick was responsible for the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of many high-profile career criminals. Many of these cases spanned across multiple jurisdictions and involved law enforcement officers at the local, state, and federal levels. In 2012 Rick was appointed as an affiliate law enforcement investigator with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. In this capacity, Rick quickly took the lead on many child predator investigations across the County and quickly was regarded as a regional expert in forensic analysis and internet crimes. Because he was in demand throughout the region, Detective Beaghley frequently coordinated complex investigations with our regional partners. He and members of his task force were responsible for removing countless child sex offenders and other dangerous felons from our streets. In Patrol and Detectives, Rick was the recipient of numerous official departmental commendations for his outstanding police work and investigations over the years. Many of these commendations were among the highest level awarded by our Commendation Review Board. Among these awards, was the Montgomery County Chief’s Heroism Award which was given back in 2002 when Rick kicked a door down Abington Township Police Department and helped save the life of a 12-year-old girl who was suffering from multiple stab wounds. He and other members of his team not only saved this young girl, but they were able to apprehend the offender. Although Rick will officially retire on Friday October 23rd, it is likely that we will still work closely with him as he begins his new career on the 24th with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office. On behalf of all the men and women of the Abington Township Police Department, I want to wish Rick, his wife, Christine, and the rest of the Beaghley family health and prosperity in the future. May God protect Detective Beaghley as he continues to protect and serve the citizens of Montgomery County. Chief Patrick Molloy

New Officers

APD welcomed 6 new officers to the Department in 2022; Michael Guidera, Michael Roberts, Matthew Ibbotson, Andy Bertrand, Marquise Ray and Andrew Stahl.

Ofc. Ibbotson, Ofc. Bertrand, Ofc. Ray and Ofc. Stahl

Promotions

In July of 2022, Abington Township Police Department swore-in our two newest Lieutenants, Joseph Blei and Drew Kent.

Lt Blei, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, completed two tours of duty in Iraq and is a purple heart recipient. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Villanova University. In the past twelve years he has held numerous roles within the Department that has helped him achieve his goal of becoming a Commander within the Police Department.

Lt Kent, served in the Philadelphia Police Department before joining our department thirteen years ago. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Rowan University, and a Master's degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from University of San Diego. He too has held numerous roles within the Department that have helped him achieve his goal of being a Commander within the Police Department. This was a historic promotion for Lt Kent as he was the first African American officer ever promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the history of the Department. Please join us in congratulating them both on this achievement, and best of luck in your new leadership roles!

Special Units

Detective Division

Serial burglar task force

Between December, 2021 and May, 2022, there were five residential burglaries in Abington, all of them bearing particular similarities. The burglaries also matched 20 additional home break-ins that were occurring throughout Montgomery and Bucks Counties. Detectives developed a suspect, who was a career burglar recently paroled from prison. A task force was created to track down this thief. On the morning of May 16, 2022, the task force followed the suspect near his home, and last saw him in the process of leaving Philadelphia on the way to the western suburbs to commit his crimes. He was arrested by Tredyffrin Police Department that day after a homeowner observed him breaking into his home on his video surveillance system. Detectives worked tirelessly to link him to his previous crimes. Ultimately, Abington Detectives charged the suspect, Derrick Cater of Philadelphia, with the five Abington burglaries along with the 20 additional burglaries which occurred throughout the region.

Firearms violations

Straw purchase operation- In April, 2022, a resident reported the theft of a firearm. The assigned detective was able to determine that the suspect who stole the firearm had re-sold it on the streets in return for drugs. This illegal sale led to the identification of three men who were involved in a straw-purchase ring operating throughout Montgomery County. Abington Detectives, working in conjunction with the Montgomery County DA’s Office and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force arrested Kenneth, Clayton and Julian Robinson (all residing in Abington Township) for felony firearms violations, as well as two of the straw purchases whom they were using to purchase handguns for their organization.

“Grandchild in Distress” Fraud arrest

On May 26, 2022, an elderly Abington couple reported that they had been the victim of a fraud. The residents reported that a male contacted them by phone, claiming that their grandson was in legal trouble in another state and required substantial funds to be released from jail. The residents, concerned for their grandson's well-being, agreed to pay the money. In this case, the suspect(s) arrived at the victim's residence (2) two separate times within an hour to retrieve the money, which was in excess of several thousand dollars. Detectives were able to link this case to other similar incidents that had occurred throughout the area. The investigation led to the arrest of Christopher Mauricio, 20-years-of-age, from Reading, PA for numerous counts of felony thefts.

Drug and gun evidence disposal

On January 26, 2022 the U.S. Army National Guard came to Abington’s Training Annex and assisted in the proper destruction of illegal drugs (heroin, cocaine, marijuana, etc.). Fifteen police departments participated in the disposal event, and a total of 439 pounds of drugs were destroyed. The drugs were manually fed into a sophisticated, clean-burning incinerator and completely obliterated. On June 9, 2022, the Abington Police Detective Division partnered once again with the U.S. Army National Guard, this time for a gun disposal event. The guns were obtained over the course of the last year from criminal cases, suicides, and from citizens who turned them in to police for safe disposal. Detectives transported the guns to Fort Indiantown Gap and witnessed the guns being fed into a large metal shredder, totally destroying the firearms.

Community Policing

The Community Policing Division is responsible for establishing direct contacts with the community and acts as a liaison between the Police Department and community organizations. However, every member of the Police Department shares the responsibility to promote and establish strong community relations. The Community Policing Division serves as a catalyst to elicit public support, to identify potential problems and to promote and foster cooperative efforts in resolving community issues. The Community Policing Division also helps establish community crime prevention groups in targeted areas where crime data, police officers, or residents suggest there is such a need.

Abington HUB

Intervention for families and individuals in crisis, often times falls short. This is both challenging and worrisome for police officers when they continue to return to the same address, only to see a family’s risk factors elevating. In 2015, Abington Township Police Department formed a service provider ‘HUB’, a Community Policing model that centralizes services and prevents duplication of effort. The purpose of the HUB is to connect citizens, who are at risk or in crisis, to care and support from the appropriate community agencies. Key members of the community, including police, adult and children’s crisis programs, homeless shelters, the school district, victim’s services, family services, mental health agencies and more, meet bi-monthly to review cases. Although most of these cases are not criminal in nature, the Department facilitates the HUB meetings, introducing scenarios and providing information and assistance for the HUB to resolve issues.

In 2022, the HUB handled 287 cases which involved 110 individuals. Possible outcomes for cases are referral to services for inpatient treatment of behavioral health or substance abuse, resources for housing/ shelter, assistance with insurance issues, in-home behavioral health services, assistance for Seniors, or connecting Veterans with resources. However, sometimes involved individuals decline any assistance.

The Bridge

The Police are often the first ones called when someone is suffering a Mental Health crisis. These incidents usually involve the non-criminal behavior of someone in crisis and in need of professional help. Although officers are trained to assist and help deescalate these situations, those involved are in need of long term treatment services.

In these situations, Officers will refer those in need to The Bridge. Additionally, Community Policing Officers review cases and monitor for individuals who may benefit from additional resources. Bridge meetings are held once a week with our Community Policing Division and a representative from Montgomery County's Mobile Crisis. Mobile Crisis may also advise APD of referrals that they receive directly that may impact the Abington community or our Officers.

In 2022, there were 724 cases discussed at Bridge meetings that involved 282 individuals. Outcomes from these referrals include inpatient or outpatient treatment for Behavioral Health and/ or Substance Abuse. However, sometimes involved individuals decline any assistance.

Youth Aid Panel

As an alternative to official court involvement, juveniles who are referred by an Officer, and admit their involvement in an eligible offense, are offered the opportunity to participate in the Youth Aid Panel program. They and their families meet with trained community volunteer panels to decide an appropriate resolution, holding the juvenile accountable for his/her criminal actions. A contract is signed between the panel and the juvenile tailored to the specifics of the offense. A contract may involve community service, counseling, restitution and other outcomes. Successful completion of the program by the juvenile will result in a contact with an internal disposition.

In 2022 there were 46 Youth Aid Panel cases with 4 failures. We had 24 Female, and 22 Male.

Kids in Safety Seats Program (KISS)

The Kids in Safety Seats (K.I.S.S.) program is designed to ensure that child safety seats and seat belts are used correctly to prevent injury and save lives. The Police Department’s inspection and proper fitting of child safety seats is sponsored by Citizens And Police Together (C.A.P.T.). There are two fulltime civilian employees, one part-time civilian employee and one volunteer in the Division who are certified to install child safety seats.

They installed 69 seats in 2022. Abington’s KISS program is one of the only such programs still in existence in our area.

Volunteers in Policing

In an effort to enhance the police-community partnership, the Volunteers in Policing Program (VIP) combines the professionalism and experience of APD personnel with the creativity and enthusiasm of community volunteers. It’s fair to say that citizen volunteers are one of the Police Department’s most important assets. Many of our programs would not exist without the participation of dedicated volunteers. In 2022, volunteers donated over 2000 hours of their time to the Police Department efforts within the Abington community.

Student Internship Program

Each semester Community Policing accepts college students to intern with the department. These students are introduced to the daily workings of a police department and how each division functions. Students must be enrolled in a criminal justice program, have passing grades and a clean criminal background. Many of these students have gone on to be employed by Abington Police Department as Dispatchers, CSO’s and even Police Officers.

In 2022, we had 12 interns from various area universities.

Citizens and Police Together (C.A.P.T)

C.A.P.T. is a local, non-profit, organization which serves as supporter and fundraiser for Abington Township Police community projects. The C.A.P.T. Board consists of representatives from non-profit organizations, schools, businesses, hospitals, as well as students, and community volunteers.

Since 1992 C.A.P.T. has supported the youth of Abington through a variety of programs. Most notably the 24 Hour Relay Challenge has engaged up to 600 students on a weekend in May for the past 21 years. Money raised at the Relay supports other originations such as the Police Explorers program and the (CPYA) Community Partnership of Youth and Adults, a school club at both Abington Senior and Junior High Schools.

Since state funding is no longer available, C.A.P.T. is the principle supporter of the DARE program taught in all elementary schools in Abington. C.A.P.T. is dedicated to reducing crime and the fear of crime, by strengthening the Abington community through organized community events, educational and awareness programs, and intergenerational activities for youth and adults.

D.A.R.E. Officers Saurman and Cartwright

Police Athletic League (PAL)

The Abington Police Athletic League (PAL), now in its 21st year, provides a safe place for young people age 11 through their senior year in high school to gather for fun and enrichment. It is made possible by officers who stop by while on patrol to play games with the boys and girls and help them get to know their police, volunteers who provide mentorship and supervision, and staff who help to run this organization in all its details.

Victim Services Unit

The Victim Service Liaison Unit is here to reach out to all victims of crime in Abington Township and to help connect them to resources in Montgomery County. Crime victims can be affected physically, emotionally or financially. The unit is here to see that victims receive the necessary help they need. Our unit is made up of community volunteers who are trained. Community Policing’s Victim Services Unit contacts every victim of a crime in Abington Township. In 2022 this unit contacted 548 victims to connect them with available services.

Crossing Guards

Abington Township Police Department has 28 crossing guards to cover the 26 school crossings during arrival and dismissal. They work rain or shine and are committed to the safety of the children of Abington. We welcomed two new crossing guards in 2022, Diane Harris and Robert Geoghan. Several crossing guards hit significant milestones in their service to the Township. Dottie Kalkbrenner - 45 years, Arlene Kimes and Mary McCormick - 40 years, and Rosita Kerrigan and Anita Crawford - 25 years. Thank you to all of our Crossing Guards for your dedication to the children and the Abington School community.

Tactical Unit

The Abington Police Tactical Unit consists of 17 members of the department. They are responsible for responding to high risk incidents, large emergencies, and as a quick-reaction team during pre-planned events. In addition, they are also responsible for ensuring that members of the department receive specialized training in a wide-range of subjects which include active threat response, special equipment, and close-quarters tactics.

Tactical Unit

Major 2022 accomplishments:

Large-scale, comprehensive joint active shooter exercise with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, incorporating all elements of emergency response.

Collaboration with Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department and Bomb Squad.

Familiarization with key buildings and infrastructure.

Provided training to department personnel and to external stakeholders in Active Threat response.

Attended outside training to develop skills.

K9 Unit

The Abington Township Police Department's K9 Unit underwent some significant changes in 2022. Just like most police departments, Abington traditionally had German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois as K9s, and they served in the roles of Patrol, Explosives detection, and Narcotics detection. In keeping with Abington's pioneering spirit, 2022 saw some firsts for our department, as well as Montgomery County, when it comes to K9 teams.

K9 Moose

Ofc. Ray De Los Santos and K9 Moose graduated from the Cape May County Sheriff’s Bloodhound Academy. Bloodhound teams are well known throughout the nation and are frequently utilized to locate missing/endangered individuals, track and apprehend suspects, and search for evidence. Bloodhound handlers and their canine partners are irreplaceable due to the lives they save on a regular basis. Moose and his handler Officer Ray De Los Santos are the first K9 Bloodhound team in Montgomery County, PA

K9 Shadow

Officer Mike Jones and K9 Shadow completed Scent Detection School in April of 2022 and Patrol School in November at Penn Vet Working Dog Center. They will continue the proud tradition of the familiar Patrol K9 team here in Abington.

K9 Leo

K9 Leo is a Therapy Dog with our Community Policing Division and is handled by Officer Christine Da Cunha. This Therapy Dog team is used to help promote interaction with the community, and to provide aid and comfort to individuals or groups impacted by violence, tragedy or traumatic events. This type of K9 team is another first for APD, as was the department's decision to let the community choose Leo's name. Thank you for the over 1000 submissions!

K9 Bella Retires

We congratulate K9 Bella on her retirement after almost 10 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Abington Township. Bella began her career in September 2012 with her partner then Ofc. Jennifer Doyle. Since graduating from the New Jersey State Police for Patrol and Explosive Detection School, K-9 Bella and now Sgt. Doyle have completed hundreds of calls for service including tracks for suspects and missing persons, explosive detection sweeps, article searches, and building searches in order to protect the public and our fellow officers. K-9 Bella and Sgt. Doyle also have conducted hundreds of public demonstrations throughout Abington Township and Montgomery County. They have participated in the Citizen’s Police Academy, and have conducted the Township’s Dog Walk and Watch Program since 2015. They have had the pleasure of representing the Department at many events and meeting thousands of people in the process.

They are the first Department canine team to earn their national certification in patrol and explosive detection, placing in the top 25 teams in the patrol competition. In 2014 and 2018, K-9 Bella and Sgt. Doyle became the first Abington Township K-9 team to certify in explosives detection through the prestigious ATF’s (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) National Odor Recognition Test. In August of 2021, K-9 Bella was promoted to the rank of Sergeant at the National Night Out, recognizing her achievements and years of dedicated service to the citizen of Abington Township. K-9 Bella is the only canine in the history of the Department to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. K-9 Bella has enjoyed a renowned and admired career with the Abington Township Police Department, instilling a sense of pride and good will for the Department and Abington Township everywhere she went. K-9 Bella currently maintains a department Facebook page, “APD K9 Bella”, with over 1,500 followers. K-9 Bella will remain with her human partner, Sgt. Doyle, enjoying hours of playing fetch, belly rubs, and lots of treats. Congratulations again!

Traffic Safety Unit

Abington’s Traffic Safety Unit is headed by Traffic Safety Manager Ofc. Freed and staffed by Red Light Camera Program Manager, Ofc. Posey and Ofc. Coughlin. The Unit provides fellow Patrol Officers with additional expertise to ensure safe streets.

These officers handle traffic complaints, surveys, and enforcement. Each June and September, they oversee the SAFE-T program (Safety in Abington through Focused Education and Traffic Enforcement) to heighten driver awareness of speeding and running lights and stop signs during months when traffic patterns change due to school closing and reopening.

They also send Operation Stop letters to parents when a driver under the age of 18 is ticketed for speeding or involved in an accident. Traffic Safety also assists with blocking of roads at numerous 5K runs & community events held throughout the year to benefit various community groups and organizations.

Citations - 1033

Warnings - 377

Arrests - 17

Abandoned Vehicles - 134

Crash Investigations - 128/ 2 fatal

Truck Citations - 115

Truck Fines - $36,311.50

Overweight Citations - 8

Traffic Surveys - 91

Honor Guard

The Abington Police Department Honor Guard is comprised of sworn personnel from nearly every division within the department. The Honor Guard represents the Department, and its members, at various functions throughout the year. Some of these Honor Guard details include parades, DARE Graduations, flag and military honors, and police funerals for retired APD personnel as well as officers killed in the line of duty.

In 2022 the Honor Guard attended funerals for fallen officers from Abington PD, NYPD, Pennsylvania State Police, Warrington PD, and Hatboro PD. The Honor Guard also participated in funerals for retired officers, as well as other ceremonies throughout the Delaware valley. They are often requested by other agencies, families and organizations to perform duties at various functions.

Animal Control

The Animal Control Officer issues citations and literature to reduce animal attacks and bites. He also issues citations for violations ranging from Dangerous Dog to Running at Large, Howling, and Nuisance.

In 2022 there were 1162 calls for service related to animals, 195 calls more than in 2021. These calls for service include Animal Bites, Dogs Barking or Running at Large, Animals Struck by a Vehicle, and Found Animals.

The ACO will continue with education along with local and State dog law enforcement to reduce these numbers.

Training & Career Development

Our Department is committed to developing and maintaining the highest level of professionalism for all of our officers, ensuring that they have the knowledge, skills and equipment necessary to perform their duties in a safe and efficient manner. Above all, we are committed to providing the best quality police service to our community with a clear focus on protecting the constitutional rights of all of our citizens. This is accomplished through a rigorous and ongoing training program. In addition to the annual re-certification training mandated by Pennsylvania’s Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission, each officer is required to attend periodic training.

In addition to the external training courses, and regular roll call training our officers receive, APD hosts numerous classes at our Training Facility. These classes are offered to area Law Enforcement agencies as well as APD officers. Below is a list of the training courses offered in 2022. The number of attendees in each class is in the right column.

Emergency Management

The EMAP Coordinator regularly responds to assist at critical incidents where multiple agencies are involved to assist the incident commander with coordinating information, communications, resources and manpower. EMAP Personnel are also heavily involved with the planning of large events. They work with the various agencies to plan every last detail regarding the safety and security of these events as is evidenced in the lengthy Emergency Incident Operations Plan that is generated for these events. EMAP Personnel generate approximately 8-10 Incident Operations Plans every year for large-scale events.

Congratulations!

On May 12, 2022 Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele recognized Detective Geliebter and Sergeant Duntzee for their tireless coordination of a multi-jurisdictional burglary investigation that began in February 2020, and ended with the defendants being found guilty in December 2021. Congratulations and great work!

Congratulations to Officer Alison Delaney on receiving the Criminal Justice Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This award recognizes an exemplary individual whose work in the criminal justice system has improved the fair and humane treatment of people with mental illness. Officer Delaney works closely with our Bridge and HUB programs to bring successful outcomes to members of our community. Keep up the amazing work!

Congratulations to Sgt. Jennifer Doyle for graduating from the New Jersey State Association of Chief’s of Police - Command & Leadership program. Outstanding job!

The Abington Township Police Department was honored to recognize Ken and Sue Hoffman with a special, new award. Over many years, Ken and Sue have performed extensive and exceptional volunteerism. Their dedication has been extraordinary and they are always motivated by a spirit of fearless attitude and unselfish cooperation. We are in awe of their work ethic and their loyalty has been inspiring to all. To further honor and thank Ken and Sue, this award has been named "The Ken and Sue Hoffman Volunteer Award" and will be presented each year to an outstanding volunteer. Many Many thanks to Ken and Sue for your amazing generosity and dedication.

In Remembrance

Detective Steven Henze

Steve served the Abington Community and the men and women of the Department for more than thirty years. Born and raised in Abington Township and a proud graduate of Abington Senior High School, Steve began his career in 1991 and served as a Patrol Officer for more than a decade before being assigned as an investigator in our Detective Division. Detective Henze was Abington’s most senior detective and was known for his remarkable interviewing skills. His skill and determination over the last twenty years in the Detective Division resulted in the arrest and prosecution of many high-profile offenders. Detective Henze also served as a Field Training Officer, a Firearms Instructor, and as a member of our Tactical Team for twenty years. Steve was well known throughout our community, and he was universally respected throughout the law enforcement region for his outstanding work and commitment on behalf of so many victims. He was a good friend, teammate, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. APD will not be the same without Steve, as we will all miss his quick wit and great sense of humor. Steve’s legacy will live on in the hearts of those who served alongside him over the past three decades. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Lisa, his daughter, Alexis, his sons Matthew and Jakob, his brothers and sisters of the Abington Township Police Department and the rest of the Henze family. Rest in Peace, until we meet again.

Safety Communicator Chris Tanczos

Chris served the Abington Community and the men and women of the Department for ten years. Chris was also a Fire Police Lieutenant & Life Active member of the Wissahickon Fire Company. Chris was respected for his outstanding work ethic and his wonderful sense of humor. He will be missed by all. Please keep Chris and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, until we meet again.