A Veteran Abington Township Police Officer Has Been Named Police Chief In Jenkintown

ABINGTON, PA — A veteran township police officer is leaving the force after 25 years of service, but he's not going far.

Abington Township Police Lt. Tom Scott has been named the new police chief in neighboring Jenkintown Borough, according to Abington police officials.

Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy says that this marks the seventh time a member of Abington's command staff has been selected to lead another law enforcement organization.

"I want to express my gratitude to Tom for his 25 years of honorable and dedicated service to our community and the men and women of the Department," Molloy said in a statement.

"On behalf of all the men and women of our Department who are presently serving and those who have served, I want to congratulate Tom on his retirement and wish him only the best as he begins this next chapter of his life," Molloy continued. "We are proud of his achievement and know that in many ways, we will still be working with him to protect and serve the members of our respective communities. Abington's loss is Jenkintown's gain."

According to Molloy, Scott held various posts within the Abington Township Police Department since first starting his career there in 1997. Roles included patrol officer, field training officer, DARE officer, SWAT/tactical team officer, patrol sergeant and finally patrol lieutenant and watch commander.

Scott also served as the department's deputy emergency management coordinator, tactical unit commander, K9 unit supervisor, firearms instructor and as a member of the Citizens and Police Together Board of Directors.

He also has emergency medical experience and has worked as both an EMT and paramedic.

"Tom's unique background and experience in both fire services and EMS Management made him a tremendous asset to our community and our Department," Molloy stated. "His passion and commitment to the profession and his genuine concern for the safety and well-being of his officers was evident in everything Tom has done over the span of his career of thirty plus years in public safety."

The Abington Township Police Department is one of the largest agencies in Montgomery County, with more than 90 sworn officers. The township is one of the most densely populated municipalities in the county.

Jenkintown, by contrast, is a much smaller department, but it is still an accredited police agency, a status reached by only a small percentage of police agencies in Pennsylvania.