VTPD History

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History

Constables and part-time police officers handled the law enforcement needs of Voorhees Township from it’s founding in 1899 until 1961. Since there were no police radios, a method was devised to notify the on-duty officers that a call was pending. This method was referred to as the porch light system. Whenever residents needed an officer they would call the off duty officer by telephone and explain the problem. The off duty officer would then turn on his porch light to signal the officer on patrol. The officer patrolling would drive by and notice the light on. The officer would stop by the residence and get his next call. This practice ended in 1960 when Voorhees Township purchased its first marked patrol car which included a radio.

By 1961 a full time police chief administered a workforce of six part-time officers. In 1963 the number of full time officers rose to four which included a sergeant and two patrolmen. Today, the department has risen to a current complement of seventy-four men and women. The force currently includes a Police Chief, a Deputy-Chief, three lieutenants, six sergeants, an investigation division, a bicycle patrol unit, a traffic division, an emergency services unit, three canine units, six records personnel and eight part-time employees for the communication center and parking enforcement. In 2001, a new police headquarters was erected. The new building provides accommodation for the sworn officers, the communication center, and the records department.

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