Lower Moreland's Newest Police Officer Speaks About Working For The Local PD

LOWER MORELAND, PA — After eight years working as a police officer in the City of Philadelphia, John McBride was ready for a change.

He wanted to try his hand at suburban policing but didn't want to be too far away from the city as he still resides there.

That's when he learned about Lower Moreland.

"It has pretty much that small township feel that I was looking for but they conduct themselves in a very professional manner," McBride said in an interview.

McBride, 32, is now the Lower Moreland Police Department's newest member. His first day on the job was Dec. 20.

McBride spoke with Patch on Friday about his professional history and goals for the future.

McBride was a sergeant for the Philly PD when he left that department before getting hired in Lower Moreland. He had worked out of the 35th Police District.

When he started looking for new police jobs outside of the city, Lower Moreland was the one he set his sights on after learning about the department's culture and meeting with higher ups like Chief Dave Scirrotto.

In fact, he didn't even take the Montgomery County consortium police test, which enables candidates to test for various open police jobs countywide. He strictly interviewed for Lower Moreland since he knew that was where he wanted to be.

One of the things McBride really likes about Lower Moreland is the department's modern approach to police training. Oftentimes, officers get certain types of training in the academy, but once at a department, it becomes sort of a more learn-as-you-go situation, he said.

But not in Lower Moreland. The department offers twice-a-month, in-service training on things like defensive tactics, which help officers rely less on deadly force in encounters with suspects.

"For twenty-first-century policing, this is on par with pretty much what I expected," McBride said enthusiastically about the small department that is located just over the Philadelphia line in Montgomery County.

McBride said the twice-a-month trainings such as those offered at Lower Moreland is virtually "unheard of" at many departments in this day and age. But he said it's very much appreciated, as you "have to be constantly evolving in this profession."

McBride also gave a shout-out to the newly formed K9 unit in Lower Moreland, which Patch previously reported on.

Overall, McBride said he's very happy with both his coworkers and his upper management.

"I just like the way that Chief Scirrotto and the Lower Moreland Police Department run themselves," McBride said.

McBride even said he could see himself working the rest of his law enforcement career in Lower Moreland. He envisions policing the community here until it is time to retire the badge.

"That's one of the reasons I picked Lower Moreland," he said.