The establishment of the Upper Merion Township Police Department was spurred by the furor in Swedesburg following the April 9, 1929 robbery-murder of a grocery story owner.
The crime was never solved and led to the denunciation of township officials by the Swedesburg residents. Blame was placed on the officials for not providing police protection for the community after there had been repeated requests to do so. The residents were forthright and blunt in their public denouncements, charges, and criticisms of the supervisors. Residents exerted pressure on township officials to establish a police department.
At the time, Swedesburg was the most heavily populated area in Upper Merion. Even prior to the 1929 murder, the residents had appealed to the Board of Supervisors to have a police department or at least have a third constable appointed to police the community. The Bridgeport Police Department would come into Upper Merion to assist, and investigations were usually conducted by the State Police or the Norristown Police Department.
Notice the different reports about the incident in out of town papers.
