You're driving down MacDade Boulevard, maybe heading toward the Walmart or just cutting through Delaware County on your way to Philly, and you see those black-and-whites. That's the Glenolden PA police department. They aren't just some big, faceless entity. It’s a small borough. We’re talking about a square mile of land, maybe a little more, packed with roughly 4,500 people who mostly know each other's business. In a place that tight, the police department becomes more than just "law enforcement"—it’s essentially the neighborhood watch with a badge and a pension.
Honestly, people have a lot of misconceptions about how small-town policing works in Delco. They think it’s all speeding tickets and cat-in-tree rescues. While there is definitely a fair share of traffic enforcement—because, let's be real, MacDade is a mess—the Glenolden PA police department handles a surprisingly complex load for a department of its size.
The Reality of Policing a Square Mile
Glenolden is tucked right between Briarcliffe, Collingdale, and Folcroft. It’s a transition zone. You’ve got quiet residential streets with neat brick rows and then you’ve got the commercial chaos of the main drags. The Glenolden PA police department operates out of the Borough Hall on East Glenolden Avenue. It’s not some sprawling precinct like you see on TV. It’s compact. It’s functional. It’s where Chief Andrew "Andy" McElwee and his team manage the day-to-day safety of a community that feels the ripples of everything happening in Greater Philadelphia.
Small departments face a unique pressure. They don't have the massive budgets of Upper Darby or the PPD. Every patrol car matters. Every officer is a significant percentage of the total force. When you call 911 in Glenolden, you aren't getting a dispatcher three towns away; you’re getting Delaware County Emergency Communications, but the guy who shows up at your door probably knows which house is yours before he even looks at the GPS.
Why the Community Connection Matters
Trust is a weird thing in local government. In Glenolden, the police department tries to stay visible. You'll see them at the borough events, the Gazebo Park gatherings, and patrolling the school zones near Interboro. It’s about "Community Policing," a term that gets thrown around a lot in textbooks but actually means something here. It means the officers aren't just reacting to crimes; they're trying to prevent the friction that leads to them.
The department is relatively small, consisting of a mix of full-time and part-time officers. This is a common setup in Delaware County. It allows the borough to maintain 24/7 coverage without bankrupting the taxpayers. But it also means those officers have to be jacks-of-all-trades. One minute they are mediating a neighbor dispute over a fence line, and the next they are responding to a serious medical emergency or a retail theft at the shopping center.
Staying Safe and Navigating the Legal Side
If you’ve ever had to interact with the Glenolden PA police department, it was likely for something routine. Maybe a fender bender. Maybe you needed a police report for insurance.
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The administrative side of the department is handled at the Borough Hall. If you need a copy of a report, don't just show up and expect it for free. There’s a process. Usually, there’s a fee—often around $15 or $25—and a waiting period while the report is processed and cleared for release. This is standard stuff, but it catches people off guard.
- Fingerprinting: They often provide this for residents needing background checks for jobs.
- Property Checks: Going on vacation? You can actually notify them. They’ll keep an extra eye on your place.
- Drug Take-Back: Like many Delco departments, they participate in programs to keep prescription meds off the street.
The MacDade Factor
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: MacDade Boulevard. It is the lifeblood and the headache of Glenolden. A huge chunk of the Glenolden PA police department's time is spent managing the flow of traffic and the accidents that inevitably happen on that stretch.
Aggressive driving is a major focus. If you're doing 50 in a 35, they’re going to see you. It’s not just about revenue—though critics always scream that—it’s about the fact that MacDade has high pedestrian traffic and narrow lanes. It’s dangerous. The department coordinates with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and other local agencies on "Buckle Up PA" and "Aggressive Driving" waves. They take it seriously because they’re the ones scraping the glass off the asphalt after a wreck.
What People Get Wrong About Local Law Enforcement
There’s this idea that small-town cops are just waiting to catch you on a technicality. While nobody likes getting a ticket, the Glenolden PA police department is governed by the same strict Pennsylvania Crimes Code and Rules of Criminal Procedure as everyone else. They are overseen by the Borough Council’s Public Safety Committee.
There’s accountability. If you have an issue, there is a formal complaint process. But more often than not, the friction comes from a lack of understanding of what police can and cannot do. They can’t "just make" your neighbor move their car if it’s legally parked on a public street, even if it’s in front of your house. They can’t settle a civil contract dispute. They are there for the law.
The Regional Struggle
Opioids. It’s the dark cloud over all of Delaware County. Glenolden isn't immune. The Glenolden PA police department has had to adapt, just like every other department in the 21st century. Officers carry Narcan. They are often the first on the scene of an overdose, beating the ambulance by crucial seconds.
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This has shifted the "expert" nature of the job. A police officer today in Glenolden has to be part social worker, part medic, and part legal scholar. They deal with the mental health crises that often manifest as "disorderly conduct." It’s a heavy lift for a small team. They rely heavily on mutual aid from neighboring towns like Norwood and Ridley Park. If something big goes down, you’ll see four different patches on the scene. That’s how Delco survives—everyone backs everyone else up.
Looking Ahead for the Department
Technology is changing how the Glenolden PA police department works. Body cameras, improved digital filing, and better forensic tools are becoming the norm. The borough has to balance the cost of these tools with the benefit of transparency and efficiency.
Most people in town just want to know that when they call, someone answers. They want to know that the parks are safe for their kids. They want the speeding on South Avenue to stop. It’s the "small" things that make a police department successful in a town like this.
Practical Steps for Residents
If you live in or are moving to Glenolden, there are a few things you should actually do to make your life (and the officers' lives) easier.
First, get to know the borough ordinances. Things like snow removal, trash placement, and parking during emergencies are enforced by the police and code enforcement. Knowing the rules keeps you off their radar.
Second, utilize the "Vacation House Check" form if you're leaving town. It’s a simple, free service that genuinely works.
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Third, if you’re involved in an accident, don't move the cars if there are injuries, but if it’s a "fender bender" and the cars are blocking MacDade, move them to a parking lot before calling. It keeps everyone safer.
Finally, remember that the Glenolden PA police department is part of the community. They use the same Wawa. They breathe the same air. Treating the interaction as a professional exchange rather than an adversarial one goes a long way.
If you need to reach them for a non-emergency, the number is 610-583-1322. For anything that requires an officer to actually show up, you have to call 911—even for non-emergencies—because that’s how the county dispatch system tracks their location and safety. It’s a quirk of the system, but it’s how things stay organized in Delaware County.
Stay aware of your surroundings, keep your car doors locked, and don't be a stranger to the people hired to protect the neighborhood. Small-town policing only works when the town actually participates.
Actionable Insights for Glenolden Residents:
- Report Requests: Always call the Borough Hall administrative office during business hours (typically 9 AM to 4 PM) to confirm a report is ready before heading down.
- Emergency Protocol: In Delaware County, always dial 911 for an immediate police response. Do not call the administrative line for a crime in progress; they cannot dispatch officers from that desk.
- Community Alerts: Follow the official Glenolden Borough website or local social media groups for "Snow Emergency" declarations, which require moving vehicles off designated routes to allow for plowing.
- Public Meetings: Attend Borough Council meetings on the second Tuesday of each month if you have concerns about public safety or police budgeting. This is where your voice actually impacts how the department operates.