N. Londonderry Twp. supervisors accept police chief’s retirement letter at meeting

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

With regrets expressed, North Londonderry Township supervisors on Monday, Oct. 20, accepted the retirement notification letter of township police chief Kevin L. Snyder, effective Jan. 12, 2026. 

Township manager Michael D. Booth said a transition plan is in place. Supervisors voted unanimously to accept the letter dated Oct. 15.

“It seems like Kevin has decided it’s a good time to retire. So he’s threatened retirement in the past, but he never put it in writing. So he put it in writing,” Booth said. “And effective Jan. 12 of 2026, he’s going to begin his retirement. I just want to let the board know that we have a transition plan in place that will be good.”

Booth did not elaborate further on what that transition plan entails.

Board chairman William C. Buckfelder said he had some comments to make about Snyder, but was contemplating making them after he had retired. That statement drew laughter from township residents in attendance and fellow supervisors.

“I will read it though, I feel like I have to say something,” Buckfelder said. “I’ve worked with Kevin on a lot of projects and just recently on the regional police department.

Buckfelder’s statement read:

“Over the last month I worked with Chief Snyder in the evaluation process of the regional police force. One discussion sticks in my mind. He passionately talked about not having a police presence in the township offices and his ability to personally talk with our residents. Kevin said all the time residents would come to the police office on election day, visits to the drop-off box, trips to the compost pile, compost, or hiking trails. They would ask Tammy if Kevin was there to talk with. He would always accommodate a chap with him. He built a sincere feeling of mutual respect for the North Londonderry Township residents. This is the way Kevin saw policing in North Londonderry Township. He cultivates this environment of mutual respect within the whole North Londonderry Township Police Department. I am confident for our future. Thank you, Kevin.”

Snyder said during the meeting that Buckfelder was one of other individuals who hired him 24 years ago. (He currently has 23 years in that department and will celebrate his 24th anniversary at North Londonderry Township this fall before he retires in January, he told LebTown after the meeting.) 

He also told LebTown he worked 20 years elsewhere, meaning he will have served in law enforcement for 44 years before he retires. He added that many municipalities have their officers fully vested in a retirement fund after 12 years of service.

Regional police force update

In a separate matter that was discussed during public comment, a township resident asked supervisors if the township plans to be part of a regional police force like other local municipalities.

Read More: North Londonderry reviews invitation to collab with regional police department

“We’ve done a lot of work, due diligence, on this,” Buckfelder said. “And right now, we’re leaning towards not participating in that regional force. For demographic reasons, we don’t have the same policing needs that they have in the borough of Palmyra and Annville Township.”

One issue is that there wasn’t enough time to decide, added Buckfelder.

“So at this time we’re not interested in, I mean they kind of brought it up, brought it to us pretty late in the game in our budgeting process. We really didn’t have enough time to evaluate some of the budgeting numbers and how it would affect us,” Buckfelder said. “So we’re gonna see, yeah, we’re gonna wait till 2026 to make any final decision.”

At its September meeting, North Londonderry supervisors reviewed an invitation to partner with a newly accredited regional police force. 

Read More: North Londonderry reviews invitation to collab with regional police department

Henri Lively, vice president of Annville’s Board of Commissioners, attended the meeting Monday night to extend an invitation to the township to partner with the Western Lebanon County Regional Police Department “for the greater good.” Lively also serves as secretary and treasurer for the WLCRPD.

Buckfelder said in September he had reviewed the invitation and wasn’t sure if the collaboration would work. Buckfelder chalked it up to the differences in socioeconomic situation for Palmyra, Annville, and North Londonderry.

“We have to focus on what’s important for our residents,” Buckfelder said in September. “It’s a very different dynamic … we’re not the same.”

Buckfelder said the board will take another look at the invitation, and he plans to attend future WLCRPD meetings. The department has a five-member board and meets monthly on the second Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Palmyra Borough Council chambers, 325 S. Railroad St.

Other business

In other business, supervisors unanimously voted to: 

• Award the 2026 fuel contract to Meyer Oil Co. in the amount of $59,467.30.
• Approve the September treasurer’s report.
• Pay the township bills.
• Receive the library report.
• Accept the Sept. 15 meeting minutes.
• Re-announce that Trick or Treat is scheduled countywide from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
• Reiterate that the National Drug Take-Back Day event is on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Penn State Health, 941 Park Drive, Palmyra. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (The township police station also has a collection box during business hours for residents to dispose of their medicines.)

North Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors will have its next regular monthly meeting at 655 E. Ridge Road on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.