Temple
Pennsylvania
Add an Article
Add an Event
Edit
Muhlenberg Township Police Department
Mission Statement
"The Primary goals of the Muhlenberg Township Police Department are many and diverse. They include the protection of life and property, resolution of conflicts, and provision for a feeling of security in the community.The department also endeavors to reduce the opportunities for the commission of crime through prevention strategies and identification, apprehension, and prosecution of offenders,as well as the preservation of the peace in the Township of Muhlenberg, Berks County, Pennsylvania."
Our History
By 1929, the congestion of Muhlenberg Township, North to the city of Reading, has created the normal suburban public service needs as well as the problems. The demand for order and enforcement of the law was growing. On January 7, 1938, Harry Gensemer Sr. was appointed chief of police for Muhlenberg Township. His salary for the year was $1,500, and was the only police officer. Harry Gensemer Sr. remained the Muhlenberg Chief of Police until his death in 1947. Late in the year of 1941, with the on set of the Second World War, a police committee was formed to help with the Reading-Berks WWII defense council. The committee was made up of Harry Gensemer Sr., Harold Angstadt, and Russell Kessler. The duties of the committee were to control traffic, patrol the streets, guard defense plants, prevent looting, enforce blackouts, control panic, and removal of duds or timed bombs. Officers on this committee have the power to arrest. Harold Angstadt and Russell Kessler were only temporary officers during the war
After the war, the Reading area’s population began to grow rapidly. With this growth, there was a need for extra police protection and so two new police officers were hired. These two new police officers were Walter T. Paul and Herbert Derr.
In January of 1946, the township bought their first police vehicle, a Chevy 4-door sedan for $900. In the same month, the position of police commissioner was created to oversee the police department. Harry Gesemer Jr. was appointed the first Muhlenberg Township Police Commissioner. On November 12, 1946, the township ran an ad in the Reading Eagle stating that the police can now be called out at anytime through the Reading Radio Service at city hall. Herbert Derr is appointed chief of police on July 7, 1947 due to the death of Harry Gesemer Sr. a month before. Walter Greth was hired as a police officer to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Gensemer. These three police officers worked on the force until 1949. Halfway through the year of 1949, a mobile radio unit was installed in the police car. This radio was similar to Reading Police’s radio, so as to work off Reading’s Radio Systems.
During the late forties, early fifties Muhlenberg Township Police Officers were working out of a small garage at 3215 Holtry Street, the current location of Laureldale Tool Company. In 1950, John Burkhart was appointed Chief, and two new officers were hired, George Kase and Austin Schmeck. During the same year the police pension fund was started.
Charles Endy was hired March 6, 1950, and on January 2, 1951, Raymond Endy was hired as a part time police officer. By 1953, officer Endy was promoted to the position of Chief of the Muhlenberg Township Police Department. In 1951, the department relocated to 5400 Leesport Avenue, across from the present township building. Once this building became overcrowded the department eventually moved out of this building and into the basement of the parks and recreation building located on River Road.
Throughout the department’s history, Muhlenberg Township Police have assisted other municipalities in their law enforcement. In 1957, Muhlenberg made a resolution with Alsace Township that Muhlenberg Township Police will now patrol the area of Alsace. The contract between the two municipalities eventually ran out in 1961. Today, Alsace Township is under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania State Police. In 1951, a document was agreed upon by Muhlenberg Township and Laureldale Borough, that all Muhlenberg Police Officers have full jurisdiction in Laureldale, and vice versa. In 1999, Muhlenberg Township Police Department took the area known as Temple under its jurisdiction for law enforcement services. At the present time, Muhlenberg Township Police Department does not patrol Alsace or Laureldale areas.
"The Primary goals of the Muhlenberg Township Police Department are many and diverse. They include the protection of life and property, resolution of conflicts, and provision for a feeling of security in the community.The department also endeavors to reduce the opportunities for the commission of crime through prevention strategies and identification, apprehension, and prosecution of offenders,as well as the preservation of the peace in the Township of Muhlenberg, Berks County, Pennsylvania."
Our History
By 1929, the congestion of Muhlenberg Township, North to the city of Reading, has created the normal suburban public service needs as well as the problems. The demand for order and enforcement of the law was growing. On January 7, 1938, Harry Gensemer Sr. was appointed chief of police for Muhlenberg Township. His salary for the year was $1,500, and was the only police officer. Harry Gensemer Sr. remained the Muhlenberg Chief of Police until his death in 1947. Late in the year of 1941, with the on set of the Second World War, a police committee was formed to help with the Reading-Berks WWII defense council. The committee was made up of Harry Gensemer Sr., Harold Angstadt, and Russell Kessler. The duties of the committee were to control traffic, patrol the streets, guard defense plants, prevent looting, enforce blackouts, control panic, and removal of duds or timed bombs. Officers on this committee have the power to arrest. Harold Angstadt and Russell Kessler were only temporary officers during the war
After the war, the Reading area’s population began to grow rapidly. With this growth, there was a need for extra police protection and so two new police officers were hired. These two new police officers were Walter T. Paul and Herbert Derr.
In January of 1946, the township bought their first police vehicle, a Chevy 4-door sedan for $900. In the same month, the position of police commissioner was created to oversee the police department. Harry Gesemer Jr. was appointed the first Muhlenberg Township Police Commissioner. On November 12, 1946, the township ran an ad in the Reading Eagle stating that the police can now be called out at anytime through the Reading Radio Service at city hall. Herbert Derr is appointed chief of police on July 7, 1947 due to the death of Harry Gesemer Sr. a month before. Walter Greth was hired as a police officer to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Gensemer. These three police officers worked on the force until 1949. Halfway through the year of 1949, a mobile radio unit was installed in the police car. This radio was similar to Reading Police’s radio, so as to work off Reading’s Radio Systems.
During the late forties, early fifties Muhlenberg Township Police Officers were working out of a small garage at 3215 Holtry Street, the current location of Laureldale Tool Company. In 1950, John Burkhart was appointed Chief, and two new officers were hired, George Kase and Austin Schmeck. During the same year the police pension fund was started.
Charles Endy was hired March 6, 1950, and on January 2, 1951, Raymond Endy was hired as a part time police officer. By 1953, officer Endy was promoted to the position of Chief of the Muhlenberg Township Police Department. In 1951, the department relocated to 5400 Leesport Avenue, across from the present township building. Once this building became overcrowded the department eventually moved out of this building and into the basement of the parks and recreation building located on River Road.
Throughout the department’s history, Muhlenberg Township Police have assisted other municipalities in their law enforcement. In 1957, Muhlenberg made a resolution with Alsace Township that Muhlenberg Township Police will now patrol the area of Alsace. The contract between the two municipalities eventually ran out in 1961. Today, Alsace Township is under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania State Police. In 1951, a document was agreed upon by Muhlenberg Township and Laureldale Borough, that all Muhlenberg Police Officers have full jurisdiction in Laureldale, and vice versa. In 1999, Muhlenberg Township Police Department took the area known as Temple under its jurisdiction for law enforcement services. At the present time, Muhlenberg Township Police Department does not patrol Alsace or Laureldale areas.