LOWER MERION – Lower Merion officials approved a motion to hire a new police officer, which is expected to bring its uniformed ranks up to its full strength of 136 officers.
The new hire follows a swearing-in ceremony two weeks earlier, where three new police officers joined the department.
During a Lower Merion Police Committee meeting this week, the commissioners approved a recommendation to extend an employment offer to one new police candidate. Later that night, during a special board meeting, the commissioners voted to approve extending the employment offer.
Lower Merion Police Superintendent Andy Block said, “Currently, we are at 135 officers that are on staff with the police department, either actually working or in training in the police academy. If you recall, back on August 3rd, we had issued conditional offers to four candidates.”
Block said three of the four candidates accepted, while one candidate declined the offer and stayed with his or her current employer, creating this vacancy.
Commissioner Scott Zelov was the only member who voted against the hiring of one more officer.
“We have a large and well-trained police department, and I believe that our current staffing meets our needs, so I do not support this,” Zelov said.
The decision to hire one additional officer followed a police badge ceremony in late October, where three new police officers were sworn in to the department.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Ernie McNeely, Lower Merion Township manager, told the three new officers they’d be joining a township with over 426 full-time employees and over 100 part-time employees.
“This is always such a pleasurable opportunity to see new officers go through the badge ceremony,” McNeely said. “You’re joining a great police department. It’s authorized at 136 police officers. One of the best departments anywhere. And I know you will learn and learn and become great police officers, as our existing force is.”
Commissioner Louis Rossman, chairman of the township’s police committee, told the new officers that they have earned the privilege of wearing the badge.
“You’re joining a department with a proud tradition of professionalism and service. Beginning today, you become part of that tradition, and the future reputation of this department will in part rest in your hands,” Rossman said.
The three new officers who were sworn in during the October board meeting were Shane Gallagher, Matthew Racine, and Danna Uruchima.
Steven T. O’Neill, a judge for the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, conducted the swearing-in.
“I’m always proud to come when asked to do the swearing-in. I’ve been on the bench now for 25 years and have watched a great number of Lower Merion officers move on up to county detectives,” O’Neill said just before swearing in the three new officers.