Police History

1300 E. 12th St. Eddystone, PA 19022

Ph.# 610-874-9325 Fax# 610-874-3350

Patrolman Charles Carmen DeTulleo
Eddystone Police Department, PA
EOW: Saturday, August 24, 1957
Cause of Death: Heart attack

William Conner

Chief of Police

POLICE HISTORY

The Police Department was formed over 100 years ago, and the Borough’s first Policemen made about $30.00 a month. Borough records are missing from before 1920 but it is known that early Eddystone Policemen worked about 12 hours a day from 7 at night to 7 in the morning. Their main function was to keep the street oil lamps in the Borough lit and in good repair. The Policemen patrolled the Borough on foot. Eddystone had one Policeman until 1915 when then Mayor Cassidy decided a second one was needed.

JOHN B. HIGLER

He was one of the first Eddystone Policemen.

LINE OF DUTY

The Eddystone Police Department’s first and only Officer ever killed in the line of duty was Charles DeTulleo.

Patrolman DeTulleo suffered a fatal heart attack while pursuing a hit and run suspect. He suffered the heart attack at the intersection of Fourth St. and Industrial Highway. A citizen took him to Taylor Hospital where he died a short time later.

Patrolman DeTulleo had been with the agency for 3 years and had previously served with the Ridley Twp. Police Department. He was survived by his wife and teenage son.

2008

Currently the Eddystone Police Department has 9 full-time Officers and is supplemented by part-time Officers. The Borough provides Police coverage 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

The Police Department handles several thousand complaints a year. We strive to provide excellent service to the community. We are responsible for investigating all crimes, responding to accidents, traffic enforcement, crime prevention and handling numerous calls for service. We have approximately one mile of the Delaware River that we are also responsible for.

National Law Officers Memorial Fund

Concerns of Police Survivors

Delco Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation

2nd Eddystone Lighthouse

Circa: 1755

Plaque: April 10, 1917 Eddystone, PA: Explosion in munitions plant killed 133

Horizontal Scroll: PA State Police Wall of Honor

Text Box: "The Final Inspection" The policeman stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining.
Just as brightly as his brass. "Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My church have you been true?" The policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry badges
can't always be a saint. I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough. But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep....
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep. And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears. I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fear. If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't.....I'll understand. There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God. "Step forward now, policeman,
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell." Author Unknown

Website created by: Ptlm. J. Pretti

The Eddystone Police Dept. would like to thank Keith Lockhart (Ret.) of the Ridley Twp. Police Department for his research on the history of Eddystone.