Norristown To Decide On New Police Chief Tuesday Night

NORRISTOWN, PA — Norristown officials will make their final decision on the next police chief on Tuesday night, bringing to an end a months-long search to replace longtime Chief Mark Talbot.

The public is invited to attend the municipal council work session meeting, which will be held at the Montgomery County Intermediate unit at 6:30 p.m.

During the meeting, council will formally choose between Derrick Wood, an inspector with the Philadelphia Police Department, and Frank Lombardo, a lieutenant with the South Brunswick Township Police Department in New Jersey.

Norristown has been thorough in its search, creating a "chief's panel" overseen by the municipal council to find and interview candidates and put them through assessment exercises. In addition to interviews with the council, the final two candidates will also met with other municipal department heads and community leaders. A public roundtable, in which community members had the chance to "interview" candidates and ask questions, was held back in October.

The new chief will helm Norristown's 70 police officers and 30 civilian staff, who are charged with protecting the municipality's 35,000 residents.

Talbot, who held the position for eight years, announced in May that he was leaving to lead the police department in Hampton, Virginia. Acting Chief Todd Dillon has been leading the department in his stead.

The Intermediate Unit is located on 2 W. Lafayette Street in Norristown.