Historic Specialized Unit
Emergency Service Unit
Historic ESU insignia from an earlier period of Chester Housing Police operations.
Chester Housing Authority Police Department
Our
History.
A dedicated presence. A shared responsibility.
From a Public Safety operation in the mid-1990s to a fully certified police department in 2000, CHAPD was built to know its communities—and protect them.
Explore the timeline
Department Archive
1998
Mid-1990sPublic Safety roots
2000Department established
25+ YearsDedicated service
One CityMutual support
01 / ORIGINS
Built as part of a larger renewal.
During the 1990s, the Chester Housing Authority was rebuilding more than housing. It was restoring stability, strengthening its operations and renewing confidence in its communities.
Public safety was central to that work. CHA established a dedicated Public Safety operation in the mid-1990s, creating a focused presence for residents, employees and Authority properties.
An archival photograph from 1998 records personnel already serving under the Chester Housing Police name. In 2000, CHA formalized the modern Chester Housing Authority Police Department as a fully certified police agency.
That foundation gave the Authority something distinct: officers whose daily responsibility was to understand CHA communities, recognize recurring conditions and respond with direct knowledge of the people and properties they served.
CHA Archive
Former tower communities
02 / MILESTONES
From Public Safety to a certified police department.
A concise record of the moments that shaped CHAPD.
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Mid-1990s
Public Safety begins
CHA establishes a dedicated Public Safety operation during the Authority's broader rebuilding and reform.
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1998
An early department record
The surviving group photograph documents Chester Housing Police personnel serving CHA communities before the modern department was formalized.
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2000
CHAPD is established
The Chester Housing Authority Police Department is formally established as a fully certified police agency.
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2000–2025
Service, growth and modernization
CHAPD expands its police response, investigations, communications, surveillance capabilities and cooperation with law-enforcement partners.
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2025–Today
The next chapter
Following Chief Rodney O'Neill's retirement, CHAPD continues its specialized mission under Officer in Charge Bryan Reeser.
03 / SPECIALIZED UNITS
Specialized capabilities changed with the mission.
Older unit insignia preserve a side of CHAPD's history that call totals cannot show. At different points, the department maintained specialized assignments and capabilities to meet changing public-safety needs.
Historic Specialized Unit
Bicycle Unit
Historic Bicycle Unit insignia used by Chester Housing Police.
Earlier Department History
K-9 Capability
CHAPD also maintained a K-9 capability during an earlier period of the department's history.
Historical unit insignia and capabilities shown here do not necessarily represent current unit assignments.
04 / PARTNERSHIP
One city. Mutual support.
CHAPD's relationship with the City of Chester Police Department has never been ceremonial. It is operational.
The departments provide backup to one another, share information and evidence, and work together when incidents or investigations move across CHA property lines. CHA records describe the cooperation as critical and document joint action against drug activity, gun violence and other serious crime.
CHAPD contributes direct knowledge of Housing Authority communities. Chester Police contributes citywide reach and resources. Together, that partnership strengthens public safety for CHA residents and the larger Chester community.
Backup works both ways.
05 / LEADERSHIP
Steady leadership through change.
For nearly 25 years, Chief Rodney O'Neill led CHAPD through growth, changing public-safety demands and the expansion of communications and surveillance technology.
During that period, the department maintained around-the-clock service, strengthened its investigative capabilities and preserved a close working relationship with Chester Police and other law-enforcement partners.
Chief O'Neill's retirement in 2025 closed a defining chapter in the department's history.
06 / INSIGNIA
The patch changed. The responsibility did not.
07 / TODAY
The next chapter is being written now.
Today, the Chester Housing Authority Police Department is led by Officer in Charge Bryan Reeser.
CHAPD continues to preserve the specialized knowledge that comes from serving Housing Authority communities while advancing investigations, technology, evidence development and coordination with partner agencies.
The uniform, patch and tools may change.
The responsibility does not.
Protect the residents. Protect the properties. Stand with our partners.