New Horsham Township Police Officer Takes Oath

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —The Horsham Township Police Department has added a Hatboro-Horsham High School graduate to its ranks.

During Monday night's Horsham Township Council meeting, Joseph Horwath was sworn in as the department's new police officer to a round of applause.

Horwath's father pinned the badge on his son and his mother held the Bible when Horwath took his oath before Hatboro Magisterial District Judge Paul Leo.

"We welcome you to the Horsham Police Department," Council President Mark McCouch said. "We are honored and happy to have you here as a homegrown Horshamite. You are joining a really great crew."

Horwath was born and raised here in Horsham and attended Hatboro Horsham High School.

After graduation in 2015, he continued his education, earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from West Chester University.

Police Chief Scott Fida said that Horwath graduated from the Montgomery County Police Academy and has a construction background, but he always wanted to be a police officer for some time.

"If he was going to be a cop, he would be a cop here," the chief said.

Township Manager Bill Walker said that Horwath went through a rigorous interview process in which Walker also interviews the final candidates.

"I painted a picture of the expectation and reputation of the police department," Walker said. "He has big shoes to fill. You are joining the best police department around. Our officers do a great job, protecting our quality of life. We want them to protect our neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and churches. They do it every day professionally."

Fida thanked the township council for ensuring that the police department is always fully-staffed.

"I've heard some horror stories from chiefs at other departments that are five-10 officers short," he said.