Colleagues and fellow members of law enforcement in Lackawanna County are remembering retired South Abington Twp. Police Chief Robert Gerrity for his support of his fellow officers and the community.
Gerrity, who led the township’s police department for 32 years and worked in law enforcement for roughly 50 years, died Monday.
An Archbald native, Gerrity began his law enforcement career as a part-time patrolman in Archbald in 1973 and took a position in South Abington Twp. in 1978. Gerrity was appointed the township’s top cop in 1991, retiring in June 2023.
His tenure as chief was among the longest of any police chief in Lackawanna County’s history, according to Times-Tribune archives.
Archbald Police Chief Timothy Trently knew Gerrity for many years prior to going into law enforcement himself. Trently said Gerrity was someone he looked up to and who supported the Police Department in his hometown.
“He was the guy with all the answers … had a lot of life experience and a lot of police experience and such,” Trently said. “As I went through my career, I bumped into him quite a bit and he was always kind, was always asking me how I was doing and how things were, and of course how Archbald was, checking in on his hometown.”
Over the years, Gerrity was active in multiple community and law enforcement organizations. Trently said Gerrity supported him taking over as president of the Lackawanna County Chiefs of Police Association, a position Gerrity previously held. He added Gerrity supported everyone in law enforcement.
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South Abington Police Chief Robert Gerrity, left and Scranton Chief David Elliot check out a new helmet from Gentex in 2004. (File photo)
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South Abington Township Police Chief Robert Gerrity poses for a photo in his office in 2001. (File photo)
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Then-South Abington Twp. Patrolman Paul Wolfe, left, and then-Police Chief Robert Gerrity, right, pose for a photo in 2023 as Wolfe was appointed chief upon Gerrity’s retirement. (File photo)
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South Abington Police Chief Robert Gerrity, left and Scranton Chief David Elliot check out a new helmet from Gentex in 2004. (File photo)
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“If something occurred in your life, if something occurred in your career, you would always get a call or a text from Chief Gerrity letting you know that he was proud of you and that you’re doing good things,” Trently said. “He supported law enforcement and he was always a good voice.”
Christopher Yarns, police chief in neighboring Clarks Summit, said Gerrity was a strong and a respected leader in the county. The men had had a great working relationship and Yarns would often take advice from Gerrity.
“The only thing I can say about him was he’s definitely a law enforcement guy,” Yarns said. “We had a great respect for each other, especially the last several years.”
Longtime township Supervisor Mark Dougherty has known Gerrity since he was in his mid-teens, around the time Gerrity started working as a township officer. He said Gerrity was a humble, caring person who was knowledgeable about police work.
Dougherty, who became supervisor chairman earlier this month, said Gerrity got along with everyone who worked in the township and was always willing to help neighboring municipalities if needed.
“The chief was just a good guy to like,” Dougherty said. “I’m going to miss his friendship. I’m going to miss his wisdom. He always had an answer for something.”