HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT

The first recorded History of the Mount Laurel Police Department occurred in 1938.  This was sixty-six years after the incorporation of Mount Laurel Township. However, this force was only in existence for seven months. An old, anonymously written news article sheds light on this early brief history:

1938:

January 1^st, William T. Nardin was elected to the Township Committee. Upon his urging, the Committee  created the police force and named Nardin the first Director of Public Safety. At that time, a budget of  $1000 was established for three “special” officers, one of which was always on call. 

1939:

The first officers were appointed to the Department.

Charles C. Garwood,

CHIEF OF POLICE hired 6/1/1939

Tony Panarello

Hired 6/2/1939

Named CHIEF OF POLICE 1955

1940:

Two more officers were added to the Department.

All of the officers were sent to Woodbury for a 16-week training period trained by the New Jersey State Police.

The men were sworn in on June 1^st, after the training period was completed. In addition to being expected to risk life and limb, the officers had to buy their own uniforms, operate their own cars, buy their own gasoline and oil and make their own repairs.

For their service, they were promised $100 to split among themselves at the end of the year. After seven months of service, the Township Committee voted to eliminate the police force by a vote of 2 to 1. William Nardin was the lone supporter of the Department.

1955:Full-time Police Force reactivated by Township Resolution

The police department was reorganized and Constable Tony Panarello was named as CHIEF OF POLICE.

Police headquarters was located at the residence of Chief Panarello on Church Rd. in the Fellowship section of the Township.

THE FIRST POLICE CARS WERE TWO NEW 1956 CHEVROLETS.

The vehicles were solid black in color with four on the floor. Each had a single red light mounted on the roof and plain lettering on the doors that displayed: 

The police station was later moved to Old Farmers Hall located at Moorestown Mount Laurel and Hainesport Mount Laurel Roads. It consisted of small corner office on the bottom floor of the building

The 2nd floor of the building was a meeting room where town business and municipal court sessions were held.

Throughout the 1950’s, the community remained a quiet rural and residential area consisting mostly of farms with horses, cattle and crops.

The calls for service mostly involved traffic accidents, disorderly person calls; domestic disputes, calls for loose horses and cows on the roadway.

Shirley Sentman

FIRST MOUNT LAUREL DISPATCHER

1960’s:

In the 1960’s, the Mount Laurel Police Department was still only a small department in Burlington County. The Department’s phone number was    BELMONT 5-2903.

The phone was controlled by a toggle switch located at the Farmers Hall that switched calls to the Moorestown Police Department while the station was unmanned.

Calls for police service were dispatched through Moorestown Police dispatcherr who would log incident cards for Mount Laurel Police Department calls for service.

The duties of the officers expanded to include crime prevention and public relations details such as lecturing in the schools and performing bank escorts for merchants.

The 1960’s began new growth within the Department with the hiring of several new officers.

Officers carried a nightstick; a 6” Colt .38 cal. Revolver, handcuffs and  Remington Pump 12 ga. Shotguns, Billy club and Sap gloves. The uniforms consisted of a gray tailored shirt with a triangular patch on the left arm, electric blue tie, dark blue trousers and matching electric blue striping with a dark blue blouse and leather gear consisting of a Sam Brown belt with swivel holster and bullet holders.

Each officer was issued 6 winter, 6 summer shirts, 3 winter trousers, 3 summer trousers, a rain coat, rubber boots, rain cover hat and winter State Police style coat.

By the end of the 1960’s, officers were paid $4,700.00 per year. They worked a rotating schedule 6 days on and 1 day off and rotated shifts on a weekly basis. Officers were required to live in town. The on-duty officer was picked up the relief for the next shift. If no relief was available, the on duty officer worked the entire next shift.

Two Special Officers were hired to man crossing guard posts and traffic details.

Nick Melso: Masonville section

Clarence West: Fellowship section.

The police station and the office of the Police Chief was still one small room with a desk on the first floor of Farmers Hall. This office was used for everything including processing prisoners and writing reports.

The six officers had lockers on the first floor, but rarely used them since they reported to work in uniform from home.

MUNICIPAL COURT

JMC Ernest Severs was the Presiding Municipal Court Judge. There was no prosecutor and there was no such thing as Miranda Warning.

1969:

In 1969 Chief Tony Panarello retired. The Department consisted of 12 officers and 4 dispatchers.

In 1969 The Township Committee replaced the Chief of Police with the position of Public Safety Director Donald Ebert who left in 1972.

1970’s:

The Police Department began a rapid growth in size in attempt to keep up with the increase of building of Larchmont, Ramblewood Farms and Birchfield developments as well as the  population within the Township.

The Police Department First Traffic Unit Begins

Radar Equipment was installed in patrol cars.

The Police Department grew to 13 officers including 1 Lieutenant, 2 Sergeants, and 1 Detective.

In the 1960’s and 1970’s prior to the Breathalyzer, those arrested for DWI were taken to Moorestown PD where they were given a Drunkometer test.

In 1971 Sgt. Larry Maio and Sgt. Jack Rizer were the first officers in the Mount Laurel Police Department to be trained on the Breathalyzer.

The Breathalyzer 900 was the first instrument used in Mount Laurel to detect alcohol. The model 900 and 900A were used ever since until they were stored forever in October 2005 and replaced with the model MKIII Alcotest used today.

1972:

The Municipal Township Budget allocated $300,000 that covered the salaries and expenses.

The Department consisted of a Director of Public Safety, 20 officers, 4 full-time and 1 part-time dispatcher.

The police department had a fleet of 9 vehicles, its own radio equipment (unique for a town of this size) and a control board for burglar alarm.

In 1972 Director of Public Safety Donald Ebert left and returned to Union PD where he was eventually appointed as Chief there.

Sgt. Larry Maio was appointed as ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE until the Township appointed Director of Public Safety in 1972.

In 1972 Major Howard Graff (NJSP-Retired) assumed position as Director of Public Safety) Major Graff moved on to Long Branch Police Department in 1979. Major Graff was credited with setting up Police Records and filing systems within the Police Department. Major Graff at age 85 today (2006) still involved in investigative work.

1977:

First Traffic Unit

K-55 Radar units were put in patrol vehicles.

Police Uniform changes from gray tailored shirts and triangle patch to dark blue shirt and blue and white badge emblem.

1979

Department Photo 1979

1980's

The growth in the Township and the police department continued. Now up to 29 Officers.

1984 - Beginning of the Mount Laurel Police Department Tactical Team

Ptl. Michael Dugan-1^st Team Leader

1985 – First Bullet Proof Vests Issued donated by The Mount Laurel Rotary

1988 – First Police Emergency Medical Technician Unit began

Department Photo 1989

1989 – First K9 Unit

1990’s

The Department, now up to 46 officers included 2 Lieutenants and 4 Sergeants.

1991 - First Female Officer Hired

1993 First Bike Patrol Officers

Def-Tech Pepper Mace Added to the police arsenal and tool belt.

1995 –

David Haas promoted to CHIEF OF POLICE. First Chief of Police Hired in 26 years. Replaced Director of Public Safety.

1995 – First Officer Hired under COPS / UNIVERSAL HIRE Grants. Grant paid salaries until 2002 and totaled over $750,000.00 in salaries, wages and police equipment.

1997 – New Communications Equipment installed

Community Policing Bureau Established

1998 –

First Mobile Data Terminals installed in patrol cars

Start of SAM (Seniors And Mount Laurel) Computer health Check System begins.

2000 - The Millennium

Department Photo 2000

2000 - The complement of the department is 74 Police Officers to include Chief, Deputy Chief, 4 Lieutenants, 10 Sergeants, 4 Detectives and 54 Patrolman.

Creation of Deputy Chief and Administrative Lieutenant Positions

The RNC

Crowd Control Training begins in 2000 for the Republican National Convention. Crowd control training has continued each year since.

First Mobile Video Recorders in Patrol Cars

2003

New Command Vehicle Communications Truck added to fleet.

MEOC - New Winnebago (Mobile Education Outreach Classroom) on Wheels purchased with $123,000.00 Federal Grant to provide Crime Prevention education to the Mount Laurel Community by Officers of the Community Policing Bureau.

2004

Department Photo 2004

October 1, 2004

DAVID G. HAAS, CHIEF OF POLICE RETIRES

November 2004

Dennis Moffett, Appointed CHIEF OF POLICE

2005 Ford F-250 4x4: Fully loaded with police package multi purpose Pickup Truck was purchased with a $ 25,000.00 grant through New Jersey Highway Safety. Used for equipment, trailers and portable road barriers.

Police Uniforms Change for the first time since the 1970s from royal blue stripe and blue and white patch to more traditional NJ Colors of midnight blue and gold.

Community Safety Officer Program

2005 – The CSO Program began in October 2005. A Select group of veteran Officers began training to be placed in Mount Laurel Schools to educate students on Victimization, Personal Safety, Gang Awareness, Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Dangers as well as Internet Safety. The program allows more exposure of the talent within the police department in a united fashion with the Board of Education.

WWII VETS SALUTED

On May 5, 2005 a caravan of busses loaded with World War II Veterans en-route through Mount Laurel to Washington DC to visit the new WWII Memorial were greeted by the Mount Laurel Police Officers standing at attention and saluting them as they passed through. This small token of admiration apparently brought tears to the eyes of every Veteran on every bus confirmed by scores of letters to the Mayor the Mount Laurel Police Department and various County Officials thanking our Officers for the spur of the moment gesture that let our great band of brothers know that they are truly appreciated for their sacrifices.

09/17/2005 Hurricane Katrina Hits Gulf Coast –

Two Mount Laurel Police Officers are deployed for 10 days with the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management to Patrol the City of New Orleans LA and to assist with the relief effort in the Gulf. The members of the EMAC Team were sworn in as Louisiana State Troopers for a one-year period.

05/1/2006 Things to come: NEW POLICE GARAGE

Bid process for a New Police Garage Awarded- the long overdue Police Garage will provide storage for Police specialty vehicles and police equipment. The site of the garage will be on the former Skand property that was purchased by the township more than 10 years ago. Completion date estimated to be November 2006.

2006 Our History Wall dedicated to all of the Men and Women of the Mount Laurel Police Department who served then and serve now to protect the Community of Mount Laurel in the highest tradition of law enforcement.

Thanks to all of the many people who contributed to make this wall possible

Contributions for this wall continue to come in as of this date July 5, 2006.

Dennis Moffett, Chief of Police