LOWER MERION — Lower Merion Commissioners approved a motion at its last meeting to extend employment offers to four new police officers, in an effort to reduce the Department’s 18-officer shortage.
Commissioner Shawn Kraemer opened a police committee meeting by announcing that the one item on the agenda is “to recommend to the board of commissioners authorizing the township manager to make conditional offers of employment to four probationary police candidates who have fulfilled the civil service requirements for eligibility.”
Lower Merion Police Superintendent Andy Block then provided additional information.
Block said three of the officers they have selected have already attended the police academy.
“So they will be able to begin their field training officer program once they complete the requirements of the conditional offer, and the fourth candidate will attend the Montgomery County Police Academy, which starts on the first of January in 2026. So again, we continue to move through the background investigations,” Block said.
There were also employment offers for new officers approved by the township last month.
“As you recall, last month we had four conditional offers that we have requested that was approved by the board and issued by our township manager, Ernie McNeely,” Block said. “Three of the four are still here with us. One of the individuals left and went to another department before they started here. So it’s a constant competition, but we continue to endeavor to fill all the ranks.”
According to information provided to the commissioners, the 2025 township budget authorizes 136 sworn officers.
“We currently have 118 active officers,” according to the staff’s memo to the commissioners. “This leaves the Department with 18 open positions before the next academy class, which starts on Monday, January 5, 2026. In addition to the vacancies noted above, we currently have 12 officers eligible to retire as of today. We also have three candidates with conditional offers pending, and anticipate hiring all three prior to the start of the next academy class.
“This action will fill four current vacancies from the existing certified list of police officer candidates, which the Civil Service Commission approved on July 29, 2025. These four potential candidates have been subject to thorough background investigations.”
The discussion took place during the township’s police committee meeting last Wednesday night, and it was then referred and approved by the commissioners at the township’s monthly board meeting later that night.