Penndel Borough dedicated its new police headquarters with a special ceremony on Saturday. Officials honored the borough’s first and longtime police chief, Frederick C. Dunkley.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Dunkley family, as well as members of state and federal government who support the town and were integral in retrieving funds for the upgrade to the station. State Rep. Tina Davis, State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick were all in attendance.
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Frederick Dunkley, who the station is named after, served in World War II. He returned a decorated war hero and made his next goal to build up Penndel’s police department. In 1950, he became the department’s first chief. According to speakers at the ceremony, the station at that point was a single room in the back of Dunkley’s house.
Dunkley became the full time chief in 1958, and served until his retirement in 1983 at 67.
“We are pleased and very proud to dedicate this station to our first chief of police, Fred Dunkley,” said Bob Winkler, the mayor of Penndel Borough.
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“Penndel may not be big, and it might not be rich, but it is rich in the history of its people,” said the master of ceremonies and current Chief of Police Joseph Sciscio.
Davis presented the flag which flew over Harrisburg on May 10 and a certificate to Penndel officials. In addition, Fitzpatrick announced that Penndel was entered into the congressional archives for 118 years of service.
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“We aren’t honoring the actual building, but the people who did and who will serve inside of the building,” Fitzpatrick said.
“If anyone embodied God, country, family and the ideals that make this country great, it was Fred,” said Tomlinson.
“My father would be very proud of this dedication, he was a man who really loved this borough,” said Fred Dunkley, the oldest son of the late Frederick Dunkley.
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The station, dedicated and now identified as the Frederick C. Dunkley Police Station is located at 37 west Woodland Avenue, only a few steps from the tiny room in the borough hall where officers previously worked.
