Lansdale police Chief Mike Trail, center, speaks about the qualifications of Lieutenant Ryan Devlin, at right, to be the department’s acting chief upon Trail’s departure, during council’s public safety committee meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Photo by Dan Sokil | The Reporter.
Outgoing chief Mike Trail to have 'soft start' in Norristown
The starting date for the acting police leader is moving up, as is the arrival of Norristown’s new chief as he departs Lansdale.
Council voted unanimously on Wednesday night to set a new starting date for incoming Acting Chief Ryan Devlin, pending the departure of outgoing Chief Mike Trail.
“The borough was notified within the past 24 hours that Chief Trail is going to begin work with Norristown sooner than previously anticipated,” said council President Mary Fuller.
“Therefore, to ensure the appropriate chain of command and smooth transition, council is looking to move up the date for Lt. Devlin ‘s authorization to serve as acting chief,” she said.
In mid-August Norristown hired Trail to be that department’s next police leader starting Nov. 3, ending a search that began with the departure of that town’s prior chief earlier this year, and a tenure in Lansdale for Trail that started in 2002. In early September, the chief recommended council name as his successor Devlin, a Lansdale native who joined the department in 1996, and later that month full council approved a start date of Nov. 1 for Devlin as acting chief.
During the council work session on Oct. 1, Fuller announced that the group had held an executive session earlier that night “to discuss matters of personnel, relating to the police department,” then brought forward a motion opening that night’s agenda for changes, then a second motion authorizing Devlin “to serve as Acting Chief (on) the earlier of October 10th, or Chief Trail’s date of departure.”
“This motion is de minimis in nature, because Lt. Devlin was previously approved to take charge, at the September meeting. And this action does not involve the expenditure of any additional funds, and is not the approval of a contract,” she said.
A Norristown spokesperson gave more details Thursday, saying Trail would begin “a soft start” in Norristown effective Oct. 6.
“The soft start will allow for on-boarding and transfer of Trail’s credentials to Norristown, a process that can take two or three weeks to complete. Trail’s official swearing-in is set for Municipal Council’s Nov. 5 meeting,” said Norristown Public Information Officer Kevin Tustin.
Back in Lansdale, after approving the new start dates, councilman Rich DiGregorio told Trail “Chief, we’re gonna miss you, and thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to the borough,” and Fuller echoed the same.
“Thank you, Chief Trail, for your service to the borough. It’s been a good number of years, and we do appreciate all you’ve done to move Lansdale forward,” she said.
Trail replied by saying Devlin “has been doing a good job” in stepping up so far, and thanked the elected officials for backing the blue.
Lansdale police Chief Mike Trail, Detective Joel Greco and Lieutenant Ryan Devlin worked the grill during a July 4 celebration in 2024. (Credit: Lansdale Police Department)“I want to thank council for the years of dedicated service, and years of trusted work, and valuable work, between myself and each of you. And I look forward to seeing the department in good hands in the future,” Trail said.
He and Devlin took turns detailing specific discussion and action items during the public safety committee meeting, with Devlin detailing recent enforcement efforts of a newly changed right-turn restriction and several requests for handicapped parking zones and other new signage around town, and Trail stepping in to add detail when needed. Committee chairwoman Meg Currie Teoh added thanks to both for their close cooperation so far, and a farewell to the chief.
“You’ve served this borough with honor and distinction, you have modernized the police department, and you have personally taught me an enormous amount, in the years we’ve worked together. I wish you well, and I’m grateful for our time,” Teoh said.
No decisions have yet been made as to whether council will conduct an outside search to fill the chief position, or on whether any changes will be made to the department’s staffing levels or structure for 2026. Those talks will continue in upcoming council and committee meetings, according to Fuller and Teoh.
Lansdale’s borough council next meets at 7 p.m. on Oct 15 at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine Street. For more information visit www.Lansdale.org.
Staff writer Rachel Ravina contributed information to this story.
