October 17, 2014 Allentown, PA – The Allentown Police Department is now up to 207 sworn officers and growing.
Four new police officers were sworn-in this morning and two more received their badges during a ceremony in City Council chambers.
Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald presided as a badge was pinned on Officer Christopher Matthews and Officer Brian Best. Pawlowski administered the oath of office to new officers Franklin Town, Brian Branston, Bryan Guzley and Jason Aduddell. Officers Town, Branston, Guzley and Aduddell also received their department badges.
“I am very pleased to see continued growth in the Allentown Police Department,” said Pawlowski. “Chief Fitzgerald and his staff have been working diligently to get us back toward full complement after a number of retirements at the end of last year. We hired four new officers last month and four this month.”
Fitzgerald welcomed the new officers to the department. “You are a part of one of the best police departments in the country,” Fitzgerald said. “Make this department, your families and the citizens and visitors of the city of Allentown proud of the job that you do.”
The newest additions to the force come on the heels of the October 1 announcement that the city will be able to hire five more police officers thanks to an estimated $625,000 Department of Justice COPS Office, 2014 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grant. The officers will be assigned as School Resource Officers in either elementary or secondary schools. It brings the city’s total authorized complement to 221 officers. Just eight years ago retirements had reduced available manpower to 160 officers.
Officer Matthews holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a 2014 graduate of the Allentown Police Academy.
Officer Best holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Wilkes University. He is a 2012 graduate of the Allentown Police Academy.
Officer Town holds an Associate Degree in General Studies from Columbia College. He is Act 120 Certified through the Philadelphia Police Academy.
Officer Branston holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Kutztown University. He is Act 120 Certified through the Baltimore Police Academy.
Officer Guzley holds an Associate of Applied Business Degree from Golf Academy of Arizona. He is Act 120 Certified through Delaware County Community College.
Officer Aduddell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Eastern University. He is Act 120 Certified through the Montgomery County Police Academy.
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Press Release provided by:
Mike Moore
Communications Coordinator
610-437-7653
