Ross Township Police mark 100 years of service

Ross Township’s police force has been around for 100 years.

“One hundred years is a great landmark in terms of the history of the township,” said board president Dan DeMarco. “To have a police force for 100 years says a lot about the fact that they do a great job of protecting the residents and solving crimes. We take pride in the fact that they are one of the best police forces in Allegheny County, in the region, probably the whole Southwestern Pennsylvania region.”

During Ross commissioners May 18 meeting, a plaque was presented to Chief of Police Joseph A. Ley, celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of the police force.

“The department was very honored to be recognized by the Township Board of Commissioners for the department’s 100 years of service,” said Ley. “Since our humble beginnings in 1922, the department and its services that it provides have evolved exponentially during that time.”

The department was formed with the hiring of one police officer in 1922. By 1924, it expanded to three officers who patrolled the township in two motorcycles and one police car, according to the department’s history.

Ley said specialized units now assist residents in criminal and forensic investigations, as well as traffic to help ensure the safety of the roads for both those in motor vehicles and pedestrians. Today, there are 43 Ross Township police officers.

DeMarco said that he and his fellow commissioners are aware of the challenges that all municipalities and government agencies face, but are proud of what the police provide to the area.

“We are delivering something to them that is of the highest quality,” DeMarco said.

Ley concurred: “The dedicated officers of the department look forward to continuing to improve our service to the people of Ross Township into the next 100 years and counting.”