Souderton Mayor Dan Yocum swears in Jeff O’Brien as the borough’s new police chief at the Aug. 4 Souderton Borough Council meeting. (Credit: Dan Yocum)
He leaves Plymouth Township force where he was patrol lieutenant
Souderton Borough Council Monday, Aug. 4 swore in Jeff O’Brien as the borough’s new Chief of Police.
The ceremony drew a packed house of family members, friends and supporters, with some council members describing the crowd as the largest in recent memory.
“The number of peers that packed the room is evidence of the positive impact that [O’Brien’s] leadership has had,” said Souderton Mayor Dan Yocum.
O’Brien previously served as Patrol Lieutenant at the Plymouth Township Police Department. A native of Souderton, he worked as a correctional officer and served as a military police officer in the United States Army before becoming a police officer in 1991.
During his tenure at the Plymouth Township Police Department, O’Brien served as patrol officer, patrol sergeant and detective sergeant before being promoted to Patrol Lieutenant in August 2009. He also spent 13 years as a member of the special operations team, according to the Montgomery County CrimeWatch page.
The borough reviewed and interviewed over 70 applicants, from Washington D.C. to Vermont, before landing on O’Brien, said Yocum, emphasizing the new police chief’s experience, community support and local roots.
“We are extremely fortunate that Mr. O’Brien is actually from Souderton,” said Yocum. “He grew up here. He went to school in this very building, formerly Summit Street Elementary School. He understands the unique fabric that makes up the Indian Valley.
“We feel very lucky to have found Jeff O’Brien,” Yocum concluded. “And we are so excited to see the great things that he will do in our community.”
