Mission Statement

The Township of Washington Police, in partnership with the governing body, is committed to identify and solve problems that threaten the quality of life within the Township. To this end, the Department is also committed to the efficient suppression of criminal and drug related activity, and to provide a secure environment for our residents. This will be accomplished through vigorous enforcement.

The Washington Twp. Police Department was established by ordinance in April 1934. William Beppler was appointed the first full time officer. Chief Beppler served as the Township’s first Police Chief until his retirement in 1973. The Township’s Police Department remained a one man department, augmented by part time special officers, until 1948 when a second full time officer was added. That second officer, Chester Johnson, would become the Township’s second Chief of Police in 1973.

The Township Police force began to grow with the town itself in the 1950’s. Additional full time officers were added in 1954, 1955 and 1957, bringing the full time force to five. With the 1961 addition of two officers bringing the force to nine, the police desk began 24 hour a day operation. Previously, during night hours the phones were answered out of town. Personnel were added sporadically at the rate of approximately one officer per year. The force jumped from twelve to sixteen in 1969 with the addition of four men. A full time Detective Division was created in 1970. Since then the force has grown to twenty two officers presently serving.

The Department has only had four Chiefs.
William Beppler 1934 to 1973.
Chester Johnson 1973 to 1977.
Justin Georgetti 1978 to 1998.
On February 22, 1999 William Cicchetti was sworn in as the fourth Chief after serving from July 1, 1998 as Acting Chief.

CHIEF’S MESSAGE

As the new Chief of Police of the Township of Washington, I intend to Continue the successful policy of community policing as the foundation of this Department.

This policy has made the Township of Washington one of the safest communities in the nation.

I also intend to implement a policy that will achieve the following:

1. Quality of service.
2. Interaction with our community.
3. Solving problems.

I know that our outstanding staff will achieve these goals and keep our community a safe and secure place in which to live.

WILLIAM J. CICCHETTI
CHIEF OF POLICE

THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME

The following was written by a student at Columbine High School upon the school's reopening:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We've don larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication.

These are the times of fast food and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes; disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or just hit delete.

Think about it.....

 

For Questions, Comments, or Concerns, please contact us at info@washtwppolice.org