Police Officer Retires After Nearly 40 Years In Middletown Twp.

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA —After nearly 40 years, Lt. Kenneth Mellus is calling it a career.

Mellus was recently recognized for honorably serving the citizens of Middletown Township for 38 years as a member of the Middletown Township Police Department.

"Congratulations to Ken on his well-deserved retirement," the police department said in a Facebook post.

Mellus began his career on Dec. 2, 1985, attending the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. He started in patrol, but soon after was selected as a K-9 handler. He and his partner K-9 Snowball served the township for eight years.

In 1995, Mellus was promoted to sergeant.

Throughout his time as a sergeant, he served in both the patrol and administrative divisions. He was heavily involved in several community policing initiatives, including the Citizens Police Academy, the Neshaminy School District Adopt a Cop program, child fingerprinting and ID programs, K-9 demonstrations, and crime prevention seminars, the department said.

Mellus was promoted to lieutenant in 2011.

As a lieutenant, he played an instrumental role in growing the IT infrastructure of the Middletown Township Police Department.

Nearly all the technology MTPD utilizes today is a result of Mellus's work.

From dash cameras and the records management system to the scheduling system, payroll handling, departmental training management, and oversight of open records requests, Mellus was the driving force behind all these tasks and initiatives.

In addition to his administrative duties, he also managed all the employees in the administrative division.

Mellus is married to his wife Theresa, and is a father and father-in-law to his six children and their spouses.

(Photo Courtesy of the Middletown Township Police Department)