Welcome to the

Chief's Corner

from the desk of

Chief of Police - Richard Oppenheimer

JAN. / FEB. 2005

Park Ridge Police Department

Seventy-Fifth Anniversary

1929-2004  

We are pleased to begin a new era of our department with a new headquarters. The building at 33 Park Avenue is expected to open in November.

 Since Tropical Storm Floyd destroyed our department in 1999 we have been working from a temporary facility.  With the move we will resume police headquarters tours for Borough groups just as we did in the past.  Please call us to make arrangements at 391-5400 Ext. 237.

 

We are posting an historical perspective of the department so you can see how we got started.  We would not be where we are today without those that got us started and set the precedents, the policy and the tone.  Times have certainly changed but the job of policing has not.  It remains challenging yet rewarding work with long difficult hours and the constant stress of the unknown in the next call for help.  A word of thanks to everyone that has helped to form this department and made it function professionally over the years.

 

THE HISTORY 

It began in 1894 with a man named Charles A. Duryea being appointed as our Borough’s first Marshal. His responsibilities were to enforce laws, provide safety, and maintain public order. In 1929 this changed when an ordinance to provide a police department was passed. The police department was established and Mayor Alexander promoted then Marshal Anthony Salimone to the position of the borough’s first police chief. 

 

From 1929, under Chief Salimone, the department worked out of a police booth headquarters located in Triangle Park , which was at the intersection of Kinderkamack Rd and Park Ave.   As more officers were added to the force, the department needed to be moved to the Municipal Building to better function (starting in the back of the old fire house.) During this move the “Radio Room” was established (in 1946) bringing the change from one way radio to two way.

 

Chief Norman Stalter took over the position of Chief in 1954 and effectively added officers, vehicles, a police auxiliary, and a police range. He served in that position until 1983 when Chief Ernest Swanson was appointed and effectively improved many areas of the department such as: vehicles, the range and weapons, a microfilm filing system and introduced computers to our daily routine. The department maintained a high level professionalism and respect under Chief Swanson.  He retired in 1989. Chief Robert Minugh was appointed in 1990 and had the task of improving police equipment which included computers and modernized weaponry. During his time as Chief many things changed including extensive improvements to the range facility, computers in the patrol vehicles and computerized data storage systems in headquarters. The Drug Awareness Resistance Education program (D.A.R.E.) was introduced in the school system during his time as Chief. The department also endured some personal tragedy during this time period.

 

Following Chief Minugh’s retirement in 1995, Lt. Richard Oppenheimer was appointed to the position of Chief and was beginning to prepare the department for the new millenium in several ways that included an extensive Community Policing Program. Along with the police department the Tri-Boro Dispatch Center was making great strides to move forward when along came a hurricane called “Floyd” that turned our world literally upside down. Since the storm, the department has been located in a storefront on Kinderkamack Rd. eagerly awaiting a new home. Under the guidance of the Chief the department has still managed to keep pushing forward adding new computer systems both in the patrol vehicles and in headquarters.  The Dispatch Center has progressed to become a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)/911 Center with a new CAD System (Computer Aided Dispatch). Policing has become more difficult during these times and the demand for more sophisticated weapons and specialized training is upon us. After the recent events of 9/11/01 , during which our community was very deeply affected, our department’s basic police motto has remained the same - to protect and serve.  The Park Ridge Police Department is proud to provide a variety of services to the many people we encounter each and every day. Our history has paved the way. 

 

This history can be found in our Community Policing Brochure which is available at a number of locations in town.  They include police headquarters, borough hall, the library, The Ridge Diner, Marriott Hotel, and The US Post Office.

 

 

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