Lansdale formalizes Ryan Devlin as acting chief starting in November

 The next leader of the Lansdale Police Department is now official, down to the minute.

“I move that borough council appoint Lieutenant Ryan Devlin as acting chief of the Lansdale Borough Police Department, effective at 12:01 a.m. on November 1st,” said councilwoman Carrie Oglesby

“Motion and quite a few seconds — well, we’ve gotta vote on it. Any comments or questions, over the applause?” council Vice President Meg Currie Teoh replied.

In mid-August Norristown borough hired current Lansdale chief MIke Trail to be that department’s next police leader, starting Nov. 3, ending a search that began with the departure of Norristown’s prior chief earlier this year. Earlier this month, the chief recommended council name as his successor Devlin, who was his first choice for promotion to lieutenant, a Lansdale native who joined the department in 1996, and has acted as a field training officer, D.A.R.E. officer, team leader on the North Penn Tactical Team, and on the department’s drug and DUI task forces.

    Lansdale police Lieutenant Ryan Devlin is sworn in by Mayor Garry Herbert during the April 18, 2018 borough council meeting. (Dan Sokil – MediaNews Group)
  

Devlin was promoted to sergeant in 2011 and has since acted as accreditation officer as the department earned that status in 2022; earlier this month Trail said he “happily and wholeheartedly recommend”ed Devlin take over, and said Devlin has “done a stellar job, and I think he is ready, and provided the proper vetting and what-not, he could be a great chief for Lansdale Borough.”

A motion formalizing that designation was voted ahead from the public safety and administration and finance committees on Sept. 3, and council unanimously approved it two weeks later, with minimal discussion beyond cheers and claps for the next leader.

“All in favor? I assume no one’s opposed to this? Great, congratulations: Lt. Devlin is appointed acting chief, November 1st,” Teoh said.

Another public safety committee item relating to the police department was also approved unanimously: an extension of the town’s contract with local nonprofit Merakey to provide a mental health coresponder to aid officers during certain emergency calls, and refer those in need to local services.

That contract calls for an increase in the hourly rate the borough pays for the services, and was approved unanimously with no discussion; council will continue talks during budget deliberations this fall on how to fund the program in 2026.

Alexis Moyer has been working in the borough in the co-responder role and is credited with building ties between police and community members and bringing together people in need of services with agencies who can help.

Lansdale’s public safety committee next meets at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 and full council meets at 8:30 p.m. that night, both at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine Street. For more information visit www.Lansdale.org.

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