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Deputy Chief Joseph Hagan
Joseph Hagan was appointed as a Patrolman with Haverford Police on December 24, 1993. Prior to that, he served with Chester Township Police Department. Significant Events of 1993:
1. Bill Clinton was sworn into office, Nelson Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize, and a blizzard struck the East Coast.
2. The year saw the release of popular romance movie Sleepless in Seattle, along with hits like Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Free Willy.
3. Fashion trends included straight-leg blue jeans, and popular footwear included Doc Martens, Air Jordans, and Converse shoes.
4. The 1993 Philadelphia Eagles overcame injuries and deficits, winning 4 of their last 6 games and demonstrating resilience by coming back from 10+ points three weeks in a row.
5. The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League Pennant and ultimately lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in six games during the World Series.
Career Highlights:
Joe served as a patrol officer, field training officer, investigator (before they were called detectives), patrol sergeant, special operations sergeant, patrol lieutenant, and ultimately as Deputy Chief. He was an operator, team leader, and commander on the Special Response Team, as well as commander of the Major Incident Response Team (MIRT).
He graduated from the FBI National Academy, Session #252, in 2013.
Awards & Recognitions: Over his 32-year career, Deputy Chief Hagan received:
• 3 Commendations of Merit
• 13 Distinguished Unit Citations
• Several letters of commendation
• The Heroism Award
Evaluation: As a sergeant, the Lieutenant at the time noted:
“Sergeant Hagan has assumed his new duties as a patrol sergeant in an aggressive, enthusiastic, and professional manner. He has quickly earned the respect of the men and women in his platoon, as well as the rest of the department. I consider him to be a huge asset to the department.”
Community Impact: Joe received many thank-you letters from the public. One particular note from a mother expressed appreciation for his professionalism and compassion in helping her daughter, a crime victim:
“Detective Joe Hagan was present and acted not only professionally but also with genuine care. This was very comforting to my daughter. Over the next several days, I was contacted by Detective Hagan, who informed me that the suspect had been apprehended. Knowing that the suspect was in custody eased not only my family's worries but especially my daughter's.”
We thank Deputy Chief Hagan for his years of faithful and dedicated service to both the department and the community. We wish him many happy and healthy years of retirement.

Detective Matthew Hufnal
Detective Matt Hufnal was appointed to the Haverford Township Police Department on January 15, 1993, and served with distinction for 32 years.
Significant Events of 1993: • A gallon of gas cost $1.16.
• The average cost of a new house was $116,000, and the average income was around $31,000.
• Michael Jordan walked away from the game—undeniably one of the greatest basketball players of the century—earning $4 million annually, to pursue his dream of playing baseball.
• The Jurassic Park franchise debuted, dominating the box office.
• Ty Inc. released their first series of tiny stuffed animals, known as "Beanie Babies."
• Whitney Houston declared, “I Will Always Love You,” a cover of Dolly Parton’s song that topped the charts. Career Highlights:
Matt served as a Detective for 24 years, also contributing to the Honor Guard, Bike Unit, and SRT Team. His personal appearance was always impeccable.
Prior to joining the department, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm, as a sentinel for Marine One (the President’s helicopter), and with the Washington D.C. Metro Police Department.
Awards & Recognitions:
Detective Hufnal received:
• 2 Commendations of Merit
• 13 Distinguished Unit Citations
• Several letters of commendation
Notable Cases & Community Service:
• In 1995, he earned a Commendation of Merit for locating and arresting a suspect involved in abducting a woman—his exceptional investigation led to her safe recovery.
• He was part of the team at the Dupont Siege in January 1996 as a member of the SRT.
• In 2014, a grateful family praised his work after he handled a jewelry theft case, noting his caring and professionalism. Chief Pettine responded, “He is an outstanding officer and a credit to the Haverford Police Department.”
• A crash victim from 1994 expressed feeling safe with officers like Hufnal on duty, emphasizing his high caliber and value to the force.
• A supervisor commended him as a "professional, dependable, loyal, and dedicated individual," with judgment and decision-making above others.
Additional Contributions:
Matt investigated and solved numerous cases, including bank robberies, jewelry thefts, drug arrests, and more. He also authored a book about the first Chief of the Haverford Township Police Department, Ed Hallisey.
We thank Detective Hufnal for his dedicated service and wish him many years of a happy, healthy retirement.

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