Upper Gwynedd recognizes, promotes, swears in officers

Monday night brought back several familiar faces and added a new one to the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department.

Newly-minted Sgt. Chad Staub and new hire Evan Meoli were both sworn in before friends and family, and the commissioners recognized Officer Fred Lynch for hitting two decades with the department.

“He’s more than well known. I think any one of us who wears the Upper Gwynedd uniform, or even if you know an Upper Gwynedd officer, everyone asks us if we know Officer Lynch. Everyone knows Officer Lynch,” said Police Chief David Duffy.

Each year Lynch organizes the department’s visits to several local neighborhoods as part of National Night Out festivities, sets up neighborhood watch programs, and teaches dozens of students as the department’s D.A.R.E. officer, the

chief told a crowd of several dozen friends, family members and fellow officers.

“In addition to all of the things he’s known for, he works patrol shifts, he rides a motorcycle, handles calls, makes arrests, and all of the community stuff is an extra part of it,” Duffy said.

“We’re very happy to have had him for 20 years, and as I told him earlier, now he’s halfway through” Lynch’s time with the department, Duffy said.

After recognizing Lynch’s service time anniversary, the board also formalized a promotion and a new hire that were approved last month. Retired

District Judge John Murray donned his black robe to administer the oath of sergeant to Staub, and Duffy said the judge did the same for Staub when the officer joined the department 22 years ago.

“I’ve had a lot of dealings with Chad over the years, and I just want to say thank you very much. It’s been a pleasure,” said board President Ken Kroberger.

Receiving his badge formally for the first time was new hire Evan Meoli, whom Commissioner Jim Santi said brings a distinguished background: Meoli graduated in 2018 from the Montgomery

County Police Academy, has interned with the Chester County District Attorney’s office, volunteered for the Abramson Center for Jewish Life, and has graduated from the township’s Junior Police Academy and D.A.R.E. program.

“It seems like this time, we’ve really hit a home run with our candidate,” Santi said.

PHOTO BY DAN SOKIL — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Upper Gwynedd police Officer Fred Lynch waves to a crowd of family, friends and fellow officers after township commissioners recognized him for 20 years of service to the township Monday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UPPER GWYNEDD POLICE DEPARTMENT Newly promoted Upper Gwynedd police Sergeant Chad Staub, left, and newly sworn in Officer Evan Meoli pose during a police department celebration after the two were sworn in on Monday night.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UPPER GWYNEDD POLICE DEPARTMENT Upper Gwynedd police Officer Fred Lynch shakes hands with township engineer Russ Benner as the township commissioners recognized him for 20 years of service to the township on Monday night.