

“Our motto is to protect and serve with pride,” said Gillispie. The department’s community engagement efforts have been so successful that in 2013, it was recognized with the IACP Community Policing Award.

Social media comes out of our division, because it’s about getting the word out.” “We’re inclusive of the patrol division because when there’s a crime trend, they can help us. “Even though there are officers assigned to that division, the whole office has to achieve it ,” said Lt. It is composed of officers who work in diverse positions within the department and includes a number of civilian employees. The Community Policing Division is responsible for crime prevention, youth-oriented and community-based initiatives, the Traffic Safety Unit, D.A.R.E., the Youth Aid Panel, the Police Athletic League, and linkage with community groups. “The community policing philosophy is indoctrinated in the department.” Kelley Warner, Commander of the Community Policing Division. “In the early 1990s, Chief Bill Kelly spearheaded the philosophy within the department and he created our Community Policing Division,” said Lt. Other popular community events and programs include the 24-Hour Relay Challenge, a fundraiser with the sole purpose of bringing the community together the Citizen Police Academy and D.A.R.E.

The Fall Festival is one of many engagement activities for Abington Township officers and the community. “He froze up and just looked at me.” Though dressed as a superhero himself, little Rory stared up at Gillispie as if he were a superhero. “He came up and wanted to say hello, but when he got there he seemed to have lost his voice,” laughed Gillispie. When little Rory Dougherty, dressed as Batman, saw Officer Roger Gillispie, he was eager to speak to him. The youth not only get to wear their costumes and grab candy, they also get to interact with Abington Township public safety personnel. (Citizens and Police Together), draws thousands of youth and their parents together to trick-or-treat in a safe environment. The Fall Festival, which is a collaboration between the Abington Township business community and the C.A.P.T. The winning photo features Officer Roger Gillispie with a young superhero during the city’s local fall festival.Įvery year for the past 20 years, a week before Halloween, residents of Abington Township, Pennsylvania get to don their costumes in exchange for candy. The COPS Office is pleased to feature the October 2016 winner of the Community Policing in Action Photo Contest: The Abington Township Police Department. The Abington Township Police Department – Where Superheroes Meet
