Trail sworn in as new Norristown police chief

The Municipality of Norristown officially has a new leader in law enforcement as Chief Mike Trail was sworn in Wednesday.

It was standing room only inside Municipal Hall’s council chambers as area residents, police officers and loved ones watched the former Lansdale chief take his next step in Norristown.

Trail’s wife, Grace, held the Bible as Magisterial District Judge Edward Levine administered the oath of office during Wednesday evening’s council meeting.

“I understand there are challenges here in this community. I’m here to roll up my sleeves and go to work,” Trail said.

Levine was joined by Magisterial District Judge Hakim Jones, a former Norristown councilman. Levine presides over court matters in Lansdale and has known Trail for 24 years.

“I’ve known Chief Trail before he was ever chief,” Levine said. “Before he was ever a detective, when he was just patrol, and I wasn’t even a lawyer, and he has grown and matured and done things for Lansdale that have been amazing.

“He’s a great listener, he’s a great teacher, he is patient, he is smart and he wants to do what’s best for the community and he’s here because he deserves to be here,” Levine continued.

    New Norristown Police Chief Mike Trail is congratulated by Norristown Municipal Council members after being sworn in on Nov. 5, 2025. Pictured, from left, is President Rebecca Smith, Vice President Rashaad Bates, Councilwoman Mydera Robinson, and Councilwoman Natalie Colson.
 By Rachel Ravina | The Reporter   

    Norristown Police Chief Mike Trail addresses attendees of a Nov. 5, 2025 Norristown Municipal Council meeting.
 By Rachel Ravina | The Reporter   

Trail’s installment as police chief in the Montgomery County seat filled a nearly one-year-long vacancy. Deputy Chief James Angelucci had been acting as interim chief as officials conducted a search following the departure of former Chief Jacqueline Bailey-Davis. Trail’s appointment fills the department’s third vacancy in the top spot in three years.

Bailey-Davis, was selected in December 2023 and sworn in as the municipality’s first Black female police chief. She left the position after 11 months, following a tenuous relationship with the administration.

The Norristown Police Department chief is responsible for overseeing a $16.3 million operational budget with “approximately 60 officers and dozens more professional staff” in a municipality with a reported 36,075 residents as of July 2024, per U.S. Census Bureau figures.     

Trail was among three finalists vying for the position. Trail was tapped for it back in August, appointed in September. Trail began his “soft start” with the municipality back on Oct. 6.

“I want to thank the community. I came here as a stranger. I’ve been here a month and I’ve received nothing but a warm embrace from everybody,” Trail said.

Trail’s professional journey began in his native Bucks County. He attended the University of Pittsburgh in the early 1990s and worked in suburban Pittsburgh policing.

After graduating, he moved to Baltimore to work as a patrol officer with the Baltimore Police Department. After a short spell in the private sector working as a stockbroker, Trail returned to law enforcement and came to Montgomery County in 2002, where he joined the force in Lansdale and assumed the chief position in 2018. He served as Lansdale’s police chief for the past eight years.

Trail expressed his admiration for the department’s existing police force and stressed the importance of community policing as he settled into the new role in Norristown.

“All of us, we’re going to work together to develop great things in Norristown,” he said.

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