MONTGOMERY TWP — The occasion of Veterans Day marked the swearing in of Army veteran William R. Peoples as new township police chief.
Peoples, a 27-year veteran of the Montgomery Township Police Department and a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, has a distinguished career dedicated to public service, according to the township.
He takes the reins from former Chief J. Scott Bendig, who retired to a gauntlet of friends, family and colleagues on Sept. 20.
“I’m honored to step into this role and grateful to everyone who helped me along the way. I’m committed to maintaining the integrity and high standards of our department and doing everything I can to make it even better for Montgomery Township,” Peoples said.
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Township Manager Carolyn McCreary said Monday that Peoples was hired as a patrol officer in the police department in September 1997. During his 27 years, he has served as D.A.R.E. instructor, expandable baton instructor, bicycle officer, Montgomery County Drug Task Force member, Awards Committee member, CLEAN TAC officer, JNET coordinator, Citizens Police Academy instructor, field training supervisor, and PLEAC Accreditation manager.
“He was promoted to the rank of Officer in Charge under the patrol sergeant in 2003, to the rank of corporal in 2008, to the rank of sergeant in 2010, and to the rank of lieutenant in 2012,” McCreary said. “He has been serving as the acting chief of the police department since September 20.”
Peoples is a native of West Chester and served in the Army from 1989 to 1994 as an M1-A1 Abrams tank crewman. He received a bachelor of science degree in Administration of Justice from Penn State and a master’s of science in Criminal Justice from California University of Pennsylvania.
He attended the FBI National Academy in 2018.
“He brings a wealth of knowledge, management skills, abilities and vision to the police department that will well serve the department, the township and the residents of Montgomery Township,” McCreary said.
Peoples was sworn in by retired Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Stanley R. Ott, a close family friend of the Peoples family.
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