CHIEFS OF POLICE
Since the Town of West Seneca Police Department was started in 1932 there have been seven different Chiefs of Police. The Chief of Police is the highest ranking officer in our department. Below is a capsule on each of the seven men that have held this position.
George D. Lyons. Chief Lyons was the first Chief of Police for the Town of West Seneca. He started with the beginning of the police department in 1932 and remained Chief till his death in 1939. His starting salary in 1932 was $1900.00 per year. He was looked upon as a man of character, disposition and with an ability to enforce law and order.
Clarence "Babe" Horn. Chief Horn was the second person to hold this position. he assumed the position in 1941 and held it till 1947. Chief Horn believed that it was important to keep kids out of trouble and that parental guidance was very important. Chief Horn felt that it was the responsibility of parents to teach that good character is more important for kids to develop than material goods and wealth. Chief Horn was also known as a man that burned the midnight oil at his job. Many days he would work till late in the evening and then head home. In fact on the night of his death, Chief Horn died while waiting for his evening dinner in the Old Island Park Grill.
Arthur L. "Art" Zimpfer. Chief Zimpfer was the third man to hold the position of Chief of Police. He was affectionately known to his friends as "Art". Chief Zimpfer was a veteran of World War One and attained the rank of sergeant during the war. Chief Zimpfer served as Chief of Police till his death in 1956.
Warren D. "Bud" Keller. A veteran of World War Two Chief Keller was appointed to the position of patrolman in the West Seneca Police Department in 1946. In the mid 50's, then Patrolman Bud Keller was asked by a reporter from the Buffalo Courier Express for his most exciting moment on the job. He told the reporter that the moment that he remembers the most was the time just prior to getting on the job when he was with a friend of his name Wayne Smith. Wayne Smith was already a Patrolman on the department and was called at home and told to respond to a homicide on Dirkson Ave. in West Seneca. He attained the rank of Chief of Police on February 1, 1957. Chief Keller was the first Chief of Police to study in college by attending Millard Fillmore College and the FBI National Academy. Chief Keller retired in 1979 and passed away on April 10, 1995.
Bruce W. Manning. Chief Manning took over the permanent reigns as Chief of Police on April 3, 1979. During his tenure, the department made great strides in the technology end of police work. Chief Manning oversaw the establishment of the DARE program in the West Seneca Schools and started the accreditation process for our department. Chief Manning retired in May of 1993 after 32 years of service to our police department.
John J. Miskovski. Chief Miskovski took over the duties of Chief of Police on July 12, 1993. Chief Miskovski started as a patrolman in 1969 and held a number of ranks within the department including Lieutenant prior to becoming chief. Under his direction the department received it's accreditation by New York State. At the time in 1993 we were one of only 55 departments in the state that held this honor. Our department still holds it accreditation today. Under Chief Miskovski our department expanded its specialization. Chief Miskovski installed a K-9 Unit, Honor Guard, Traffic Unit, Centralized records and dispatch and arson investigators to the department. Chief Miskovski retired in 2001.
Edward F. Gehen Jr. Chief Gehen took command of our department in 2001. With the new millennium many new changes and challenges have come about in police work. Chief Gehen is working today to integrate these changes in our department. Under his direction we now have a centralized dispatch system that has placed our dispatch in the hands of Public Safety Dispatchers. This change is freed up more officers for patrol functions. Chief Gehen has continued to expand our community orientated police style with bike patrols, walk and talk patrols and with the development of a School Resource Officer program with our school district. He has increased the department's communication efficiency with new police and fire radios dispatch system, portables assigned to all officers, a new transmission tower and repeater systems for both police and fire dispatching. Chief Gehen continues an innovative approach to public safety and fosters partnership with our community.