History

Since the inception of the Borough of Lehighton in 1866, there has been organized Police service in the Borough. Several records in the Lehighton Press indicated money being budgeted for Police Protection throughout the 1870’s and 1880’s. In the early years, the Lehighton Borough Police Officers provided night watchman services as well as being available during the daylight hours. A majority of the budget was used to fund additional police services during the Lehighton Fair. In those days, the Borough of Lehighton had a number of hotels, businesses as well as an active opera house which provided officers with several areas to protect.

William Swartz

Tragedy struck the Lehighton Borough Police Department on April 30, 1917, when Chief of Police William Swartz was shot and killed by a crazed man. While investigating threats made by the man to the local Justice of the Peace, Chief Swartz observed the man in the area of the Carbon Hotel located at the corner North First and North Streets (currently Community Bank).  As Chief Swartz approached the man, he shot him in the chest.  He died from his wounds on May 3rd, 1917.    Chief Swartz left a widow and several children.

There is a memorial for Chief Swartz in the lobby of the Lehighton Borough Police Department. His name is also inscribed on the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC.

Protecting the Memorial are statues of lions. The inscription below reads, "It is not how these Officers died that made them heroes It is how they lived".

Chief William Swartz, End of Watch - May 3rd, 1917.

Harry Yenser

30 years later on May 30, 1947, Chief of Police Harry Yenser suffered a fatal heart attack as he was returning to the scene of a domestic disturbance.

Chief Yenser had responded to a domestic disturbance earlier in the day and had arrested two individuals for disturbing the peace. He had placed both individuals in their cell at the Municipal Building when he suffered a fatal heart attack in his police vehicle in the parking lot. His body was found by two fellow officers and taken inside the building where a doctor was summoned and pronounced him dead.

Chief of Police Yenser served with the Lehighton Borough Police Department for 25 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and a brother who also served with the same agency.

A picture of Chief Yenser hangs in the hallway of the Borough Municipal Building.

After extensive research, we were able to have Chief Yenser's sacrifice recognized by the The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) as a line of duty death. In May 2019, Chief Yenser's name was added to the Police Memorial Wall in Washington DC.

In addition, Chief Yenser is also honored on the Police Memorial Wall.

Chief Harry Yenser, End of Watch - May 30th, 1947

We will always remember our past officers and the sacrifices they have made.