Cheltenham Township Police Department

The K-9 Unit Memorial at the Township building.

Cheltenham Township Police Department was formed in February 1903 by the Township board of Commissioners.[1] At the time of formation, there was one chief, and only seven officers. Since then, the force has expanded drastically, operating with about 84 members. However, due to drastic budget cuts, the number of sworn personnel has dwindled to 76 in 2010-2011, 70 in 2015. 2012 saw the Cheltenham Police Department's first layoffs in the Township's history, when 2 sworn members and 3 civilian employees were laid off due to Township budget shortfalls.

The Cheltenham Township Police Department started 2017 with only 67 sworn personnel, down 19 officers from the authorized force of 86 in the late 1990s into the early 2000s. However, as of 2020 the number has increased to 73 officers.[2]

Cheltenham Police can be divided into four divisions:[3] The Administrative Services Division, the Detective Division, the Patrol Division, and the Professional Standards Division.

The Cheltenham Auxiliary Police has 30 all-volunteer members, who support the Cheltenham Police. Although not armed, the Auxiliary police members are qualified to use police communications and vehicles when necessary.[9] Auxiliary Police members can often be seen at parades, Concerts in the Park, the Township Harvest Festival, and other community events, to make sure they all run smoothly.

The police serves a vital role in the community, such as educating the youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, bike safety, and driving. They also are present at all township events, such as the July 4th Parade, Harvest Festival in October, and the Concerts in the Park during the summer.