Interim police chief named
Borough bids farewell to retiring chief
Pottstown lost a police chief June 5 and gained a new interim chief.
Deputy Chief Michael Markovich became interim oolice Chief Michael Markovich for an undetermined period of time as the result of a unanimous vote June 5.
He will earn $110,000 a year in the post.
And he was congratulated by his predecessor.
Working on the second-tolast day of his 30 years of service to the borough, retiring Police Chief F. Richard Drumheller also received, with good grace, the praise of borough, state and religious leaders.
Police chief since 2013, Drumheller was told by Mayor Stepha-
nie Henrick that the recognition is “well deserved and I will miss you terribly.”
“Perhaps what I will miss most is your expert guidance, and the ability to help those around you,” said Interim Borough Manager Justin Keller, who informed Drumheller that a brick with his name on it would be placed on the walkway in Riverfront Park.
Drumheller was also honored by a triumvirate of state representatives — Tom Quigley, R-146th Dist.; Tim Hennessey, R26th Dist., and David Maloney R-130th Dist. — all of whom praised his effectiveness and work ethic and who presented him with a resolution passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives recognizing his service.
Quigley said he first met Drumheller in 2002 when he was mayor of Royersford and in charge of a regional DUI enforcement detail that Royersford had just joined for the first time.
“The thing that struck me about the chief then, he was coordinating the whole thing, was his calm demeanor, his sense of purpose, and that really impressed
me,” said Quigley.
Hennessey said Drumheller had delivered the assurance for the people of Pottstown that, as is necessary in these times, that police authority was being administered properly.
Maloney said he went to high school with Drumheller, and his record “speaks volumes to what public service is and what it means to our communities.”
Later in the evening Bishop Everett Debnam of Invictus Ministries Inc., who is also the police
department’s chaplain, thanked Drumheller for his service, and for becoming his friend.
Debnam also reminded council that “you get what you pay for” in terms of the next chief of police.
After he spoke, council adjourned into a 25-minute executive session closed to the public to discuss “personnel.”
When they emerged, they voted unanimously (council members Rita Paez and Carol Kulp were absent) to appoint Markovich as interim police chief.