Jun. 29, 2016
HARRISBURG – Today, Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) and all of his colleagues in the House chamber voted to honor the only police officer in Upper Darby Township to be murdered in the line of duty.
House Bill 1923 would designate a portion of Lansdowne Avenue, from State Road to School Lane, as the Officer Dennis McNamara Memorial Highway.
The portion of the road to honor McNamara runs in front of Upper Darby High School and Arlington Cemetery, where the officer’s body rests.
“This road-naming is a small gesture given Officer McNamara’s commitment to defending our community,” Santora said. “However, it is my hope that while his family and all members of the public remember the courage and dedication he had. Recognizing him in this way would allow his memory to live on.”
In January 2002, McNamara was shot and killed by a lifelong criminal while investigating a parked car in the Cardington section of the township.
McNamara, at the time of his death, was an eight-year veteran of the Upper Darby Police Department and one of its most decorated officers. While he spent his career as a patrolman, he was also an Air Force veteran who remained active in the Reserve. He is survived by his wife and two children.
The bill now advances to the Senate for consideration.
Representative James R. Santora
163rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com
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