Yardley Police Force At Full Strength With New Hire

YARDLEY, PA —Yardley Police Chief Joseph Kelly III finally has a full force.

At Tuesday night's Borough Council meeting, the chief announced the hiring of part-time officer Richard Chekay, who fills the remaining vacancy the Yardley Borough Police Department had open.

Chekay was sworn in by Mayor Chris Harding at the beginning of the council meeting and was surrounded by family for pictures following his taking the oath of office.

Chekay, of Hilltown, is a 2022 graduate of Temple University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice with a minor in public policy. He's a graduate of the Temple University Police Academy.

The police department had recently named a part-time officer before another departed, which led to Chekay's hiring, the chief said.

At its meeting earlier this month, Borough Council approved the hiring of part-time officer James Routh, of Newtown, who was a 2021 graduate of the Temple Police Academy.

The past year has seen a lot of police activity on the hiring front.

In late February, the police department hired Lucas Murray to replace Heather Carnivale, who left in mid-October to take a full-time post with the Lower Southampton Township Police Department.

At the time of Murray's hiring, Kelly said that Andrew Nagle has left the department as a part-time officer to join full-time with the Upper Makefield Township Police Department.

Last October, police officer Dakota B. Romberger was promoted to the full-time ranks.

In September, Yardley hired Robert Gergal Jr. as a part-time police officer.