Lansdale Police Officer Retires After 40 Years Of Service

A Lansdale police officer is retiring after 40 years of service to the borough and surrounding area.

Officer Pat McKernan has been an officer in Montgomery County since 1971, when he started as an officer for Whitpain Township. He stayed there until 1981.

To commemorate more than four decades of service, Lansdale Police Chief Robert McDyre and other officers picked up McKernan and escorted him to his home, as friends and neighbors cheered on, police said.

McKernan aslo worked part time for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department from 1975 to 1978, then the Lower Gwynedd Police Department from 1986 to 1989, before finally settling into his home with the Lansdale PD in 1990.

Lansdale police posted the following in his honor on their Facebook page:

Officer McKernan is one of those officers that other officers always enjoyed working with on duty. After over 40 years on the job, Pat had an enthusiasm for police work that could rival a young patrol officer fresh out of the academy. Pat was always the consummate professional and someone people would gravitate towards due to his affable manner. Pat was a great police officer and, above all, a great friend…he will be missed around the police station.

Pat said it will be difficult coming to the realization that he will no longer be wearing the uniform and moving on from police work. He said he will miss the camaraderie of working with his fellow officers, but looks forward to having off on the weekends, spending more time with his family, and especially just “relaxing.” After 40 years of service, your relaxation is well deserved…enjoy your retirement, Pat.

In addition, McKernan was a corporal in the Marine Corps from 1966 through 1968 and earned decorations fighting in the Vietnam War.

Images courtesy Lansdale Police Department.