Many still living remember the sound of the horse's hoofs in the night, and the feeling of security as Chief Richard Ford patrolled the streets of Ambler. Known by everyone as Dick Ford, he could be described as a very colorful and charismatic individual, possibly our most memorable chief of all time.  By day he was Ambler's Health Officer, the man who tacked those colorful quarantine signs on your door for measles, mumps, scarlet fever etc. 

He wasn't the first police officer in town, though, for in 1897-98 there was a Constable James R. Stevens in the news. In 1899 James Boileau ran against him on the Democratic ticket for the position of High Constable.   Elected in April of 1900, Boileau's uniform was bought with money raised by the citizens of Ambler. At the same time, his salary rose from $45 to $50 a month, with a set of handcuffs being purchased for $4.25.  

There were complaints in 1900 that the High Constable was rarely seen in the extreme limits of the borough, with a suggestion being made that call boxes should be placed in strategic parts of town for him to ring in. 

Apparently not much serious crime existed in these years, for reports of police activities included breaking up crap games or arresting bicyclists for various "crimes" in town.  Lindenwold Avenue was considered a speedway, with bicyclists turning onto Butler Avenue, frightening horses and in turn causing accidents. Those apprehended were taken before Justice of the Peace Thomas Bitting at Main & Short Streets.   Here they paid costs of $7.75 or had their bicycles impounded.   Local ordinance called for bicycles to have lights and horns, with much police work spent apprehending violators.  

An interesting story tells of an incident at the old Reiff's Mill on Butler Avenue, next to the Wissahickon Creek.  This building, still standing today, was acquired by Keasbey & Mattison Company and converted into quarters for housing Italian men brought here to work at the plants.  It was rumored that gambling was going on in the yard behind the building. Constable Boileau, with three deputies, swooped down on the men on a Sunday morning as they were playing a game similar to bowling.  Arrested were seven men and a boy. The Justice of the Peace fined each man $7.50, and the boy $3.50.  The "gambling" was the innocent and traditional Italian game of bocce!   But they were betting pennies! 

First mention of Dick Ford's name came in the summer of 1904, when he acted as a substitute for Officer Boileau who was vacationing.   An interesting story is told of Ford before he became High Constable.  He was a member of Wissahickon Fire Company. While he and other fireman were visiting Atlantic City in 1906 as guests of the local Fire Company,  Ford witnessed a thief stealing luggage at the train station.  He immediately began to pursue the thief, the chase taking them through the city, resulting in the capture, at which time Dick Ford turned over the thief to the Atlantic City Police. 

In February of 1908 the voters of Ambler elected Ford to the post of High Constable, replacing Boileau; thus began the illustrious career of Chief Dick Ford.  

Ford handled an awkward situation at  the old Bandstand very diplomatically. While Frank Palumbo conducted the Ambler Band, a stranger in town was making a nuisance of himself by imitating train noises and other annoying sounds.  Chief Ford approached the man, saying to him, "Sir, you have the  choice of spending forty days in our lock-up or leaving town for good."  The stranger, choosing the latter, was given a dollar and put on the Chestnut Hill-bound trolley waiting on the tracks by Joe Angeny's Drug Store.  

It was decided in 1922 that Chief Dick Ford could make the rounds of Ambler more efficiently as a mounted officer.   In addition to a horse, he was given a night stick, an automatic revolver, a sawed-off shotgun, a mounted uniform and a storm cape.   Mounted, he was able now to make three rounds instead of one.  

As late as May of 1927 Chief Ford was warning owners of automobiles not to leave them parked on the streets at night without lights. There was the chance of causing accidents or being stolen