From left to right, in front, are new Officers Robert Nolan and Matthew Terry joined by, in back, Supervisor Joyce Keller, Board Chair Scott Badami, Vice Chair Kim Koch, and Supervisor Sara Selverian. (Photo courtesy of Whitpain Township)
Nolan, Terry. join the Whitpain Township Police Department in August
The Whitpain Township Police Department has grown with a duo of new officers.
Officer Robert Nolan and Officer Matthew Terry, both of whom were graduates of the Montgomery County Police Academy, were sworn in for duty on Aug. 20 by Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard during the meeting of the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors, who welcomed two new faces.
Whitpain Police Chief Kenneth Lawson said that over 30 candidates applied for the positions via a vigorous hiring process he and his staff organize for new potential hires.
“First, I want to thank the board for always giving this police department what we need to serve the Whitpain community. Thank you,” said Lawson. “We always start, here in Whitpain Township, with a very competitive [hiring] process.”
The candidates first come before a police board, made up of the department’s two lieutenants and two sergeants. They then move on to a polygraph test. Those that pass move on to an interview with the chief and township manager.
Qualifying candidates aren’t done there. Following the interview process, the hopeful recruits must undergo various testing, from medical examinations and drug tests to a full background check, and psychological testing (in both interview and written formats).
If selected, the hires must also obtain Act 120 certification, however in these two cases, the candidates were equip with such certs by completing the police academy. Field training, which spans 14 weeks, is then completed by each applicant, and then they enter into a one-year probationary period of employment.
The first candidate discussed at the Supervisors’ meeting was Nolan. Nolan was a locally born and raised candidate, who attended Blue Bell Elementary School and grew up in the township.
“I don’t think we’ve hired a kid from Whitpain for a long time,” said Lawson. “It’s so nice to have somebody come back home.”
Nolan was an Archbishop Carroll High School graduate, who later worked for his father in a painting business. Nolan’s father, who also attended the evening’s swearing-in, still lives in the township.
Nolan had previously held a role with the township’s Parks and Recreation Department, having received an associate’s degree from Montgomery County Community College. In 2018, Nolan attended the academy. He was hired soon after by the Norristown Borough Police Department, where he has worked since.
Lawson said he was happy to have such a qualified hire.
“We’re definitely going to bring him home, and get him to Whitpain,” said the chief.
The night’s second hire was Terry, who grew up in Willingboro, N.J., was a graduate of Camden Catholic High School. He went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the Southern New Hampshire University, with a concentration in counterterrorism and homeland security.
Terry went to the academy in 2019, hired soon after as a SEPTA transit police officer. In 2021, he moved to the Upper Darby Police Department. Terry was certified by the FFA as a drone pilot and is additionally training now to become a licensed pilot.
“We have Wings Field here, that we’ve talked about, and that might be a great place here that he can keep that going,” said Lawson, who added that Terry’s experience in narcotics investigations, surveillance, and SWAT operations would be helpful in his new role.
“He comes with a lot of experience from Upper Darby,” said the chief.
The two new officers were sworn in during the meeting and are now working to protect the Whitpain Township community.
