[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23827]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE ABINGTON TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CENTENNIAL 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ALLYSON Y. SCHWARTZ

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
congratulate the Abington Township Police Department on an important 
milestone--its 100th anniversary. Since 1906, the officers of Abington 
Police Department have proudly served and protected our community, and 
I am honored to represent them in Congress.
  Beginning with only four patrolmen and a handful of bicycles, the 
Abington Police Department has blossomed into a modern, diverse and 
professional police agency. Under the leadership of Chief William J. 
Kelly, the Department now counts 163 law enforcement professionals, 
including an undercover drug investigation unit and SWAT team in its 
ranks.
  Over the last century, the Department accomplished many significant 
achievements. In 1906, it established the first fingerprint laboratory 
in the region. Later that year, it used this facility to close the 
first criminal case in Pennsylvania using only fingerprint evidence. 
Ten years later, the Department traded in its bicycles and horses to 
become the first fully-motorized police department in the United 
States--an achievement that was motivated by the need to patrol a 
region that was originally very rural, but is now a fully-developed 
suburban community.
  In recent years, Abington became the first police department to 
achieve statewide accreditation from the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement 
Accreditation Commission and one of three municipal police departments 
in Pennsylvania to achieve international accreditation from the 
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The 
Abington Police Department's record of excellence has been recognized 
by its peers, who have paid tribute to many of its law enforcement 
initiatives and appointed it to serve on a number of regional 
taskforces.
  While successfully fulfilling its mission to serve and protect, the 
Department has also successfully established strong community ties. It 
has partnered with Abington residents to implement innovative programs 
like D.A.R.E, the Police Athletic League, Kids in Safety Seats, and 
Town Watch--demonstrating its commitment to building a strong community 
that is free of crime, violence, and substance abuse.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I congratulate Chief Kelly and all of the men 
and women of the Abington Police Department for their service, 
dedication, sacrifice and accomplishment. I look forward to continuing 
our work together and ensuring another 100 years of success, safety, 
and security for all Abington residents.

                          ____________________