Police Beat

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department is reaching out to parents who owe child support with an amnesty-week. Montgomery county sheriff, Eileen Behr says, from June 10th until June 14th, people who owe child support can make arraignments to start paying to avoid arrest.

“There are about 300 active warrants out there for people who are failing to pay child support. When you fail to pay, Sooner or later it becomes a criminal warrant for failure to follow the court order for payment.”

Behr adds, about 5-million dollars is owed to families for child support. The County’s Department of Domestic Relations has a list of offenders who repeatedly have ignored notices. According to records, one parent owes
55-grand, while another owes 44-thousand.

The Lower Gwynedd Township Police Department has a new to cop. He’s also a familiar face to residents and staff. Paul Kenny was sworn-in as the new Police Chief of Lower Gwynedd Township. Kenny started with the department as a patrolman in 1985. Kenny takes over for Chief John Scholly, who recently retired after holding the position for the last ten years.

In an effort to enhance the safety of police officers in the North Penn valley, two hospitals have donated bullet proof vests to the North Penn Tactical Team, which consists of officers from various local police departments.  
Gary Candia is the C.E.O of Abington Health Lansdale Hospital.

“We decided to provide the tactical team with two vests, one from Abington Health Lansdale and one from Abington Memorial Hospital. We purchased the vests at a cost of two-thousand dollars each.”

Candia adds, the tactical team made a presentation to the hospital’s business council about its procedures, which led both hospitals to act to assist the tactical team with the bullet proof vests.

North Wales is looking to hire a new Chief of Police. Officials expect to receive nearly one-hundred applications for the chief’s position. The Chief’s responsibilities, unlike other departments, will include a regular patrol shift, due to the small size of the department. Terry Hammerstone has served as the chief on an interim basis since January after the resignation of Chief Harry Hackert in February over an assault incident in the Poconos. June 21st is the deadline to apply for the position.