Thorndale police chief submits resignation to city, plans retirement

Thorndale Police Chief Martin Jackson submitted a letter of resignation to the Thorndale City Council on Sept. 24 and the council accepted during a meeting the same day.

Jackson will retire effective Oct. 3.

The following is a letter from Jackson to the citizens of Thorndale:

Greetings,

Just over five years ago, I took over as your Chief of Police. My goal for our department was to bring a more modern, professional police department of integrity, honesty and community service to Thorndale. 

Many of the duties we perform are not police related at all. In fact, many of the calls are for a variety of services to our community. Our goal is to provide service above and beyond the basic police duties. Hopefully, you have noticed many positive changes in your police department. 

There are many obvious changes including the newer modern police vehicles, black and white paint scheme of our vehicles, newly designed badges, changes in our uniforms, communication through newspaper articles, and the many community service events. Community service events to involve the citizen’s and community policing opportunities. 

We are conducting more proactive police patrols and have increased our visibility along our roadways, residential areas, business districts and schools. Changes you might not have seen include more thorough investigations in all law enforcement matters, more responsiveness to calls for service, written documentation of police activity, meeting state reporting requirements, acquisition of modern police equipment; in-car video cameras, updated two-way radios, body cameras, laptop computers, and third police vehicle. We want Thorndale to have a modern, professional police department.

I submit this letter in anticipation of my retirement, which becomes effective on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. Serving as Chief of Police for the City of Thorndale has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and as I tender this resignation I also tender my thanks. In serving law enforcement for more than 37 years, I have never enjoyed being a policeman as much as I have in Thorndale.

Thank you is extended to the citizens of Thorndale, the police officers and volunteers of the Thorndale Police Department. In working together in partnership in our community oriented policing initiatives, we forged the way forward in protecting the community and collaboration. Public safety is a shared responsibility, but the police will always carry the larger burden. It is impossible to quantify the many acts of bravery, kindness, and concern that our officers perform each day, but I am deeply grateful for their acts and for the privilege of working beside them for the past five years.

Those years have not been free from tragedy. We have lost many peace officers throughout the country in the line of duty. A steep and painful cost to all law enforcement and even us here in Thorndale. 

We strive every day to assure that we provide fair, honest, equal, and constitutional policing for our community. The sanctity of life is our primary focus. You deserve to enjoy a good quality of life in Thorndale. We will continue to positively engage the citizens and residents of Thorndale in an effort to ensure the safety of all involved.  We do not want a tragic event to happen in our hometown.  We do not want to become a statistic.  

Everyday our officers respond to a host of emergencies and calls for service, which put them in a position to see our community’s worst problems. Yet, despite the problems, criticisms, and danger, these dedicated officers get up, go to work every day because they get tremendous satisfaction out of helping others.  Our community is very lucky to have such caring and dedicated police officers who want nothing more than to serve and improve our great community.  

I couldn’t be happier or prouder to have been a part of a community that has shown me they understand our role as law enforcement officers.  At each turn, I also see citizens work hard to make Thorndale a better place to live.  Our officers and citizen’s energy, drive, and determination continue to help improve the lives of others. I am extremely proud of our department’s personnel and accomplishments, and I believe in being transparent to the people we serve.  My door was always open to any and all of you.  

We, the officers, really do appreciate your support.  These are challenging times and I’m sure the new administration will remain committed to the City of Thorndale.  Thank you again to all who have been so very kind and considerate to those of us in blue. 

May God Bless you always,

Martin L. Jackson

Police Chief - Retired