Tredyffrin Police Chief Retires Suddenly

Tredyffrin Township Police Chief Andrew Chambers is scheduled to be back at work on Wednesday following a four day suspension imposed last week. But he won't be back on the job in the for long.

Chambers told Township Supervisors on Saturday that he will retire at the end of the year, essentially giving two week's notice after serving the township for 30 years.

Chambers' decision to retire is just the latest development in what has been a three and a half week stretch of extraorindary developments in what is by all official accounts an otherwise exemplary career of public service. It began after Chambers' 16-year-old son got into a minor crash while driving a township police car on a closed training ground with an instructor in the case. His son has a learner's permit but does not have a driver's license.

What prompted the four day suspension was Chambers' apparent delay in reporting the incident. The accident happened in a Bridgeport, Montgomery County training facility on November 23. Chambers did not report the incident until December 5, which supervisors say led to his four day, unpaid suspension.

Supervisors released a statement on the matter, which also expressed support for the chief, despite his judgement in this one incident.  So it came as a shock to most in the room Monday night when retiring Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Lamina read a new statement:

It is with mixed emotions  that I regret to announce this evening that over this past weekend the board was advised by superintendent chambers of his intent to retire from the Tredyffrin Township Police department on December 30^th of this year after nearly 30 years of dedicated public service.

I think it’s important to note that the decision made by the Superintendent  is one that was never a consideration by this board in connection with the recently imposed suspension.  The chief further advised the board’s personnel committee yesterday  that his decision was made only after serious reflection on his and is family’s part  and that he believed the decision was in the longer term best interest of  the Tredyffrin Township Police and our  township community.

Speaking for myself, I must tell you all that despite recent events I have come to admire and highly respect Superintendent Chambers  over my 13 plus years on this board and would respectfully ask that you all  afford him the dignity and respect that he deserves during this transition period. Thank you very much.

Chambers informed the board he will retire on Friday, December 30.