Crime & Safety
Upper Merion Swears In New Police Chief, Blaine Leis
A large crowd celebrated the swearing in of Upper Merion's new chief, a longtime local public servant.
UPPER MERION, PA — Upper Merion swore in its new police chief before a large crowd at the township's Freedom Hall Thursday night.
Police Lieutenant Blaine Leis officially became the new chief and the new acting public safety director after a ceremony conducted by Judge Patrick Krouse.
Leis has been employed with Upper Merion for 18 years. He will succeed Chief Thomas Nolan, who served the township for 39 years before his recent retirement.
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"Our Firefighter/EMTs and EMS providers are the best in the profession," Nolan said in a recent statement. "I had a civilian support staff that was second to none. This public safety team was up for any challenge that we faced. Chief Blaine Leis will lead them into the future."
Leis also leads the Gladwyne Fire Company as chief, a position he has held since 1987, and is an adjunct instructor at Neumann University.
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