History

Brookhaven was incorporated as a Borough in April 1945. Prior to incorporation the Borough had a constable for 38 years by the name of Robert Platt, and the Pennsylvania State Police patrolled the Borough.

The Brookhaven Police Department was founded in the 1950's from a group of Fire Police Officers.  When the department began the officers patrolled in their own vehicles and did not have radio communication.  If the police had a call, the Delaware County Radio room dispatcher would leave a telephone message at the officer's residence and their wives would leave the porch light on.  So, the officers would frequently pass their residence. The first official police car was a 1959 Studebaker.

The first Police Chief was Walter Conley.  The department was reorganized in 1962 and Gerald Newcomb, a retired Pennsylvania State Police Officer, was appointed the Chief of Police.  Approximately eight years later he was replaced by Harry Herrick, who was then replaced by Clarence "Fusty" Kennedy.  In 1980 a nationwide search was conducted for the position and current chief, John M. Eller was appointed in May 1981.

Presently

The police department consists of the Police Chief, six full time patrol officers, an investigator, and ten part time patrol officers.  The department has six marked patrol vehicles and one unmarked investigator's vehicle.

The department has two certified DARE Officers (Officers F.Scott Ely and Gregg Martin) who serve Coebourn Elementary School. Chief Eller visits Northley Middle School and Sun Valley High School on a bi-weekly basis with a program titled "Operation DAVE" (Drug, Alcohol, Violence, Education).

The department has two officers skilled in accident reconstruction, Officers George Pappas and F.Scott Ely.  Officer Ely also coordinates the "Click it or Ticket" and the "Aggressive Driving" campaings.

The department has three officers assigned to the Central Delaware County Tactical Team (Officer Ely, Squad Leader, entry team, Officer Pappas, Sniper Team, Investigator Randolph McGoldrick, Negotiator).

The department also has a Mountain Bike Patrol Unit.  Currently Officers F. Scott Ely, John Parrott and Daniel Fisher are certified mountain bicycle officers.

Officer John Parrott is the Juvenile liasion officer who works closely with the Brookhaven Youth Aid Panel.  The Youth Aid Panel is a group of concerned citizens who hear minor juvenile offenses and provide a form of retribution in lieu of having them enter the Juvenile Justice System.  The Brookhaven Youth Aid Panel is the longest running youth aid panel in the Delaware County (1977).

The department also works closely with Brookhaven Town Watch, which has been in existence for twelve years.  Town Watch members have been of great assistance to the department over the years.

The department consists of the following officers:

#2701 John M. Eller, Chief of Police (1981)

#2734 Officer George Pappas (1982) #2723

#2752 Investigator Randolph McGoldrick (1985)

#2726 Officer John Parrott (1985)

#2721 Officer F. Scott Ely (1996)

#2724 Officer Gregory Martin (2000)

#2722 Officer Timothy Habich (2007)

#2738 Officer Robert Barth (1995)

#2739 Officer Richard Subers (2006)

#2735 Officer Daniel Fisher (2008)

#2733 Officer Kevin Crouse (2008)

#2736 Officer Fran Bruder (2008)

#2737 Officer Michael Habel (2009)

#2771 Officer Jonathan Zebley (2009)

#2732 Officer Richard Clymer (2009)

#2731 Officer Michael Birney (2011)

#2734 Officer Jason Diamond (2011)

#2772 Officer Sean Gallagher (2011)