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Lincoln Park Police Department History

Police Department Origins

oldpd.jpg The Lincoln Park Police Department was formed by Municipal Ordinance on July 10, 1922. The first Chief of Police was Elmer Watt. Chief Watt was a stern no nonsense Chief who served Lincoln Park until the 1950's when his successor Chief Robert Van Zant became Chief of Police.

The police department has evolved from the small sleepy farmtown department which existed as such until the mid 1960's. With the rapid expansion of the Borough in the 1960's also came the expansion of the police department. Under Chief Scherer the department expanded and many well remembered police officers joined the force.

Officers from the 1960's-70's

Chief Scherer Capt Nowacki Sgt Herlihy Sgt Meyer Sgt Brackin
Sgt Hackett Ptl James Wild Ptl Ronald Wild Ptl. Gibbons Ptl.Sass
Ptl.Ison Ptl. Ken West Ptl Joel Gross Ptl. Monson Ptl.Nadzam
Sgt Karback Ptl. Davis Ptl. Carey

Officers from the 1980's -present

During the 1980's the department again underwent tremendous change. By 1981 Chief Nowacki had taken over as head of the department. Joining the department during the 1980's were:

Ptl. Mazzanna 1979
Ptl McGregor 1979
Ptl. Nowacki 1983
Ptl Rondanini 1984
Ptl. Canning, Ptl. Andrascik 1985
Ptl. Marshello, Ptl. Sundberg 1986
Ptl. Karback 1989

Chief William Karback became Chief of Police in 1989, among the first hires were:

Ptl. Zoeller, Ptl. Mark Bosland, Ptl. West, Ptl. Massaro, Ptl. Folan 1990

In 1993 Chief John Gibbons became Chief of Police

Ptl. Mabey, Ptl. Runfeldt, Ptl. Hackett, Ptl. John Karback, Ptl. Simone 1993

In 1995 Kenneth F. West took over as Chief of Police

1996, Ptl. Wenzel, Ptl Herbek, Ptl. Greg Bosland, Ptl. Ruggiero 1996

Ptl. Clements, Ptl. Zammit, 1998
Ptl. Ward 2000

John Cifelli becomes Chief of Police 2002

Ptl. John Cifelli 2001
Ptl. Glenn Grune 2003

Sean P. Canning becomes Chief of Police 2005

Ptl. Heather Bailey becomes LPPD"s first full time female police officer 2005