Haverford chief marks 50 years in law enforcement
HAVERFORD » Haverford Police Chief John Viola’s most memorable case came early in his career when he was a young patrol officer and on the Haverford Township police force for only two years.
It was an armed robbery on July 20, 1972, of the former A&P grocery store on West Chester Pike, recounted Deputy Chief Joe Hagan at a ceremony marking Viola’s 50 years of service in law enforcement on Thursday. Viola, then a patrol officer, pulled the robbers’ car over only to see one of the perpetrators of them lying in the backseat and pointing a gun at him, Hagan said.
“The driver sped off and a pursuit occurred,” said Hagan. “During the pursuit one of the actors fired two shots at his vehicle and they went through the windshield of his patrol vehicle. After a wild pursuit, the vehicle crashed and a foot chase ensued.” Viola caught one of the robbers and another officer grabbed the other bad guy.
If Viola hadn’t been “driving
dirty,” that is leaning to one side, he would have been struck by a bullet, said Hagan.
Later, Viola, 72, said that remains the most memorable incident of his long police career. Viola rose through the ranks in the department to become its chief in January 2016. He is still the only member of the department to receive an award for valor from Haverford Township.
In his early days Viola was assigned to a police ambulance, said Hagan, showing pictures of the old ambulances in use then.
Hagan listed all the changes in policing since
1970, such as body armor,
911 system, computers, Tasers, SWAT, semi automatic handguns and DNA testing.
“Chief Viola is always available for Haverford citizens,” said Hagan, whether on police calls or fire department calls.
“The chief’s dedication to the township and its citizens is truly remarkable,” said Hagan. “Even though he has
50 years, he is often the first one out the door if a hot call comes into the police station.”
Hagan also thanked Viola’s family for supporting all that that he does.
Viola, who grew up in Haverford, joined the Brookline Fire Company three years before he joined the police department is also the fire chief of that company.
Brookline President Herbert Schmidt was on hand with other board members of the fire company to wish Viola well.
“The one thing I’ll say about John is when he makes a commitment, he thinks about it, makes a decision and it’s not a hidden decision, it’s a long term decision,” said Schmidt. “Obviously, 50 years with the township, 53 years with the fire company John, I wish you many more years. Congratulations.”
State Representatives Mike Zabel, D-163rd, and Greg Vitali, D-166th, were at the ceremony to present Viola a plaque from the state legislature. Delaware County Councilman Kevin Madden and District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer also praised Viola.
Stollsteimer, who lives in Haverford, thanked the police for “keeping us safe.”
“The job you do is, I think, the hardest job in all of America right now,” Stollsteimer said. “Being a police officer, you’re under attack and you’re asked to do things that are just extraordinary. We want you to be the first responders to the door when there is a shooter and do community policing, to help people. And the way you do it here in Haverford every day, all year long, under the chief’s leadership and the deputy chief…Thank you so much for everything you’re doing. Everybody in Haverford appreciates what you do and the leadership you get from the top.”
Various officials, retired officials and also police chiefs from other towns also came to wish him well, along with friends and family members.
Hagan thanked Viola for being a “friend and a mentor” to his officers and presented him with a famed display of off the badges he’s worn since 1970, along with gift certificates to his favorite restaurant.
Viola thanked those who came to the celebration and jokingly called the picture of himself as a young officer that was on display “truly frightening.”
When he first came to apply to the department, he had to get weighed to meet a requirement for the job. At 124 pounds, he was too skinny to join so he drank some milkshakes and ate bananas until he gained 10 pound and came back again.
“It’s been a journey of love,” Viola said. “When I started here in 1970 I was a young kid who was going to take on the world…Now I’m in a position that I can make some of those changes.”
“I hope that along the way, I’ve made other people’s lives better,” he said. “That’s always been a goal when you start you have these ideals that things are going to change. When you look back and think of people you helped that is the most important thing to date.” He still gets letters thanking him from accident victims.
“I’ve enjoyed more than I can tell you working for the township,” he said.
Afterward, Viola said that he has no plans to retire any time soon and that he loves working with his fellow officers and the public.
“I wish I could do (it) another 50 years,” said Viola. “As long as I feel good and I feel I’m making a difference, I’ll stay on. It’s a good feeling to come to work every day.”