Patrol Sergeant Joe Blythe of the Abington Township Police Department has allegiances to both Abington and Cheltenham townships.
A ’93 graduate and a member of Cheltenham High School’s track and field team, Sergeant Blythe served in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps from 1993 to 2001 and has been with the Abington Township Police Department ever since.
Now 18 months away from retirement, Blythe has served as a hostage negotiator, accident investigator, D.A.R.E. officer, police recruiter, honor guard, coordinator for the Eastern Montgomery County Task Force’s sobriety checkpoint program, and community policing liaison.
He has a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Penn State University and a master’s degree in public safety administration from St. Joseph’s University. He also has a son who recently graduated from Alabama University.
How has policing changed over the course of your career? “It’s never been this hard to recruit. It’s gotten unbelievably difficult, in large part because policing has changed drastically over the last decade. We got caught up in a political movement, and it was necessary to have some changes. I think society has to make some changes, too, and what you’re starting to see in the next generation is a lot of emphasis on the responsibility of others, including our institutions, and we’re losing a sense of personal responsibility. Personal responsibility makes us better. If I’m blaming everyone else, what other intrinsic mechanism exists for evolving? It’s become an epidemic.”
“I see people get bailed on things that they never used to get bailed on, and you just end up seeing them again a couple weeks later. You have to keep people off the street if they present themselves as a hazard. People not being held accountable is what’s caused the spike in crime.”
Best memories from Cheltenham High School: “I was a freshman when President Bush came to the high school. Sports connected us, especially the rivalry games with Abington. The late Mr. Butler and Mr. Rogers, our principal back then, were great men, and it was sad when they passed away. Mr. Rogers knew everybody’s name. He truly, honestly cared about students.”
Most satisfying professional moments: “Working the NFL Draft in 2017 and the Democratic National Convention in 2016. I was also stationed in Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics. I had just turned 21, and I was exposed to everything you can imagine. Just being there for the Olympics was unforgettable. I got to see Michael Jordan’s last game at the Omni, too.”
Favorite things about the greater Glenside area: “I’ve been all over the country and the world, and this is a place that has the true stamp and the DNA of America. It has a diverse mix of people that make you proud to do what you do. Getting in a uniform, doing your job, people appreciate you and you appreciate them. It’s a place where I could spend the rest of my life.”
Words of wisdom/advice for Cheltenham’s recent graduates: “Enjoy the day. Tomorrow’s never promised, so keep those friendships and never forget about home. This is who you are and this is your legacy. Be proud of where you’ve come from.”
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Information partially provided by Chuck Langerman, local historian