On April 1, 2024, Chief Block, Detective Sergeant Todd Smith and Upper Moreland Board of Commissioners honored UMPD Detectives Francis Gallagher and Vince Small with merit citations, each for the investigation of a robbery and the arrest of the violent perpetrators of the crimes. The details of their incredible efforts are listed below. Please join us in congratulating these hard-working Detectives for their outstanding work!

Detective Francis Gallagher:

On the morning of Saturday, February 18, 2023, Upper Moreland Police responded to a robbery at a gas station in the township. Detective Francis Gallagher responded to the scene and immediately shared the description of the suspects and their vehicle with surrounding jurisdictions. 

Detective Gallagher began to forensically process the crime scene, which included securing surveillance footage and processing for DNA. With the assistance of detectives from the Upper Dublin Police Department, Detective Gallagher located and recovered the suspect’s vehicle, which had been abandoned in Dresher.  It was determined that the robbery suspect stole a different vehicle from that location and fled the area.

Detective Gallagher forensically processed the recovered vehicle and obtained evidence that linked the occupant to the robbery that occurred in Upper Moreland.  He prepared and executed search warrants with detectives from outside jurisdictions.  These search warrants resulted in the development of several suspects, but more importantly, eliminated innocent suspects.

Detective Gallagher was able to interview the suspect, who confessed to the Lukoil robbery and numerous other robberies across several jurisdictions.   

Detective Vince Small:

On the evening of Wednesday, May 24, 2023, officers from the Upper Moreland Police Department responded to a robbery / home invasion on York Road.  Three suspects had taken a large sum of money from the victim. Detective Vincent Small responded to the scene, photographed, and forensically processed the apartment, which included processing for DNA.  He also conducted an in-depth interview of the victim.  

Detective Small was able to obtain social media communications between one offender and the victim.  Detective Small then executed several search warrants on social media providers for account information and content. As a result of the executed search warrants, he was able to identify one of the suspects.  Detective Small was able to interview the identified suspect and review the content of that suspect’s cell phone, which yielded additional evidence.

During the next six months, Detective Small continued to develop information on the suspects and recovered cellular data as well as social media content.  As a result of his investigation, the three suspects were identified, arrested, and charged with Robbery and related offenses, providing justice and closure to the victim of this violent crime and thereby preventing these offenders from committing additional crimes.