Riverside Police Department Turns 100!

2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the Riverside Township Police Department!

As Riverside’s popularity grew as a “resort town” after being founded as Progress by Samuel Bechtold in 1851, so did the need to keep peace and good order. Keeping of the peace during that time was done by constables.  The primary responsibility of a constable was the service of legal papers and dealing with weights and measures.  They were also responsible for the arrest of persons for minor offenses.  Arresting violent offenders at that time was often dealt with by gathering a group of armed men.

According to limited records, constables served until 1921 when the first Chief of Police, Chief William Voshell was sworn in. Riverside did not have an official “lock up” until August of 1912.  The “lock up,” or holding cell, was officially dedicated New Year’s Day of 1913. The “lock up” has been refurbished several times since the original dedication and is still in use today by the police department.  The police station was renovated in 2009 and now occupies the entire ground floor of the municipal building while the court and court offices occupy the second floor.

The Riverside Police Department has evolved over the years into a department known for its community policing efforts, which have been awarded by the New Jersey Attorney General, State and General Assembly, Burlington County Chamber of Commerce, and the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

We have also received awards from NHTSA and NJSACOP for underage alcohol prevention programs and traffic safety enforcement, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), ASIS International, Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Anti-Defamation League, and the Burlington County 200 Club. The Riverside Police Department has also been voted the Courier Post’s, “Reader’s Choice Best of South Jersey.”

Over the course of the next year we will be commemorating our Centennial by sharing posts about our history and profiling some of the Officers that have served here.  We look forward to a bright future, and as always, we thank you for allowing us to proudly serve you!

If you were related to a Riverside Police Officer and have any photographs or other items you would like to share with us, please contact Captain Jaensch at  hjaensch@riversidepolicenj.org.