Recognition Reception Honoree
Oscar P. Vance, Jr.

Oscar P. Vance, Jr., is a lifelong resident of Abington Township where he presently resides with his wife Lloyia.  They have three children, Nicole, Oscar, and Lloyd, who, like their father, graduated from Abington Senior High School.  They are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren:  Sienna, Joshua, Maxwell, Haven, Taylor, Shelby, and Nathaniel. Both he and his wife are active members of Salem Baptist Church in Jenkintown.

Chief Vance is a graduate of The FBI National Academy.  He holds an A.A. in Police Science from Montgomery County Community College, a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Sociology from LaSalle University, and an M.S. in Criminal Justice and Administration from West Chester University.

Currently, serving as Chief County Detective, Oscar has 43 years of law enforcement experience, working for the District Attorney’s Office since 1964.  Oscar has been Chief of County Detectives, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, since 1982.  He served as the first investigator for the Disciplinary Board of the state’s Supreme Court in 1973 and is certified as a law enforcement Forensic Hypnosis expert and Narcotic Investigator expert by the Montgomery County Court.  He was instrumental in establishing the first Computer Crimes Investigation Unit to safeguard youth in Montgomery County.

Chief Vance is a member of numerous organizations, including the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Advisory Board and Police Chief’s Association of Montgomery County.  He is a Trustee of Abington Memorial Hospital, serving on the Board’s Professional Affairs and Compliance committees and chairing the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. committee.

He is past president of the County and State Detectives Associations; member and president of the International Police Association, PA Region #13, and past 2nd vice president of the USA Section; subscribing life member of the NAACP, Willow Grove Branch; and a member of the Montgomery County Black Law Enforcement Officers Association, which provides scholarships for minorities and women to attend Municipal Police Officers training.  He is also a member of the Optimist Club of Lower Montco., where he served as president and chairman of the scholarship committee for 15 years and was responsible for 50 students from Abington, Cresmont, McKinley, LaMott, Pennllyn, Ambler, and Norristown areas receiving college scholarships.  Oscar is a 33rd Degree Master mason, United Supreme Council, Prince Hall, Martin Luther King, Jr.  Consistory, Bryn Mawr, and Ambler Lodge #19.

With a concern for the safety and well-being of the community’s young people, Oscar is a member and past president of Citizens And Police Together (CAPT) and helps to organize and rides annually in its motorcycle Bike Day to raise funds for youth projects.  He is a founding board member of the Abington Police Athletic League and can be credited with bringing the food festival concept to this community to raise funds to provide free PAL activities so that no Township young person is ever excluded based on costs.  He was a charter member of the Abington anti-drug program “We Can Say No” and serves  Abington Town Watch Ward #3.  He is also a member of the Kingsman Athletic Club, Inc., which provides mentors and supervises activities for youth.

Oscar said he remembers well the many activities in which he participated while growing up in Abington.  He tells how he likes working in the community that gave to him so he can now help give back.  He further relates that the people working together and giving their time and money to form a good community makes Abington and Rockledge strong and vital.  His vision is a safe place to live where we promote the development of our children.  Community goals include good schools, youth mentorship, and supporting community organizations that help youth.

As a result of his longtime service to our community, Chief Vance has received more than 50 community service awards.  These include the Citizens for Progress Malcolm X award, Willow Grove NAACP Trailblazer award, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives distinguished service award, Abington High School Hall of Fame award, Montgomery County Community College Hall of Fame award, Norristown Area High School Mentor in Criminology, Moore-Triplett Post #451 American Legion Achievement award, Montgomery County Bar Association Public Service award; International Police Association Hall of Fame award; and Salem Baptist Church Man of the Year award and Family of the Year award.

Oscar enjoys many hobbies, including riding motorcycles, golfing, fishing and participating in the Salem Baptist Church men’s club.  He has enjoyed travel to Alaska, Mexico, and Canada.  He is proud to have served in the United States Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963 and is currently a member of the North Penn VFW Glenside Post #676 and the United States Marine Corp League, Glenside.

ACT is delighted to present Oscar with this well-deserved recognition as one of the laudable  Citizens That Care.

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