Cheltenham Township Chief of Police John Frye is retiring after 26 years. Lieutenant John Slavin has been appointed as Acting Chief. 

Since July 1989, Lt. Slavin has been with Cheltenham Township holding various ranks and assignments, most notably spending 10 years as part of the Department’s Community Policing Unit. He was named Lieutenant in 2015.

A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Slavin has served in every command position at the Lieutenant level. He also spent 18 years as a K9 handler during his time on patrol and is still responsible for overseeing the K9 teams.

“I’m very proud to be a member of the Cheltenham Township Police Department.  I work with wonderful men and women who are doing a great job every day to safeguard the community,” Slavin said. “I’m also proud of the accomplishments the Department has achieved in recent years, especially attaining its third Re-Accreditation with the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association this October, which is an in-depth process making sure we are following the best standards and practices in the police profession.”

In his role as Acting Chief, Slavin hopes to build strong partnerships with the community based on the relationships started through community policing. Slavin stated, “I will work with the Board of Commissioners, Township Administration, the Officers, and community partners to identify community concerns and develop effective solutions, in order to build on and improve the quality of life in the community. I look forward to working in this role to move the Department forward!”