All Fireworks Remain Illegal in City of Middletown

A Special Message from Chief John Ewanciw:

As we approach summer, the City of Middletown Police Department would once again like to remind our residents that ALL TYPES of fireworks remain illegal to buy, sell, possess, or use anywhere within the city limits.  There is significant confusion surrounding the use of fireworks because the New York State legislature passed a law several years ago that legalized some types of fireworks around the July 4^th holiday.  What many people do not realize is that the law only legalized sparklers and other small ground-based fireworks, AND that many municipalities opted out of the legislation in the interest of public safety, keeping all types of fireworks illegal in those cities, towns, and villages.

Given the dense population of the City of Middletown and the substantial number of complaints that our agency and other city officials receive every year for dangerous and disruptive fireworks displays, ALL FIREWORKS REMAIN ILLEGAL within the City of Middletown.  Violators are subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and/or 15 days in jail.

While we recognize the desire of individuals to celebrate our nation’s independence, we must balance that desire with the safety of our residents and the need to maintain the high quality of life that people have come to expect from our great city.  In the coming weeks and throughout the summer, the Middletown Police Department will be strictly enforcing all fireworks related offenses.  Please respect the law and the rights of your neighbors, and do not use fireworks in the City of Middletown.  There are numerous public displays that will take place around the local area, to include Middletown’s own celebration scheduled for Saturday, July 2, 2022.  Please be safe, and feel free to contact the police department with any questions or concerns regarding fireworks or any other quality of life issues. 

Vulnerable Citizens Registry Program

The City of Middletown Police Department recognizes the significant challenges that many residents face when trying to care for family members with special needs such as Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, autism, or other mental health disorders.  All too often, families are faced with very limited community resources and public assistance, which only adds to the substantial stress and burdens associated with managing these debilitating conditions.  In an effort to enhance the service our agency provides to our community, the City of Middletown has implemented a Vulnerable Citizen’s Registry Program.  The program will be utilized to assist our personnel in better communicating with members of our vulnerable population when they are in crisis, so that we can work more effectively with them and their families to obtain a positive outcome.  In order to join the program, families must complete a Vulnerable Citizen’s Registry Form, which will then be added to our department’s records management system.  All of the information provided on the Vulnerable Citizen Registry Form will be kept strictly confidential, and will only be made available to emergency personnel acting in the performance of their duties. The information will only be used to protect and assist the vulnerable individual identified in the registration form and provide them with appropriate assistance.

If you would like to join our Vulnerable Citizen’s Registry, please complete a registration form here and submit it to the police department either in person or via email at jthoelen@middletownpolice.com.  If you have additional questions or concerns regarding the program, please contact the police department at 845-343-3151.  

Welcome to the City of Middletown Police Department

Welcome to the official website of the City of Middletown Police Department!  I am truly honored to serve as your Police Chief, and I am committed to providing the highest level of service to our residents and business owners.  This website provides an in-depth overview of our organization and the various services that we provide to the community.  The City of Middletown Police Department has a proud history, one that dates back more than 130 years to 1888.  For generations, the dedicated men and women of this police department have been protecting and serving our city, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, with the highest level of honesty, integrity and commitment.  You have my firm promise that our officers will continue to work tirelessly to maintain the high quality of life that our residents and visitors have come to expect from the City of Middletown. 

In order to accomplish our mission and community objectives, we must have the respect and unwavering support of the people we serve.  For this reason, community policing is a primary focus for our agency.  I want to ensure that our work has deep roots in transparency, and that we work together with our citizens to develop mutual trust between the police department and the community.  This objective undoubtedly requires a collective approach, with the open exchange of ideas and information, so that the complex challenges that exist within our city can be more effectively addressed.  I am thoroughly committed to resolving our differences, and I pledge to work closely with our community leaders to strengthen my department’s bond with our residents through new and progressive outreach activities.

I encourage you to review this website, as well as those of our community partners, to take full advantage of the various opportunities that exist within our community.  Together, we can build a stronger, safer Middletown!

City of Middletown Police and Community Panel

The City of Middletown Police Department has worked diligently to comply with Governor Andrew Cuomo's Executive Order #203, entitled the New York State Police Reform and Reinvetion Collaborative.  This order mandated that all police departments in New York State meet with their community stakeholders to develop new policing methods that will hopefully improve the manner in which law enforcement services are delivered to residents and business owners.  Please click the links below to view the presentations from each meeting, as well as the department's plan for implementation that is scheduled for a community review on February 16, 2021.  The public is welcome to contact the police department with any questions, comments, or concerns regarding our presentations or our plan for implementation.  As we work towards adopting these reforms, you have our pledge that our officers will continue to serve with the highest level of professionalism and respect!

pdf City of Middletown Police and Community Panel Plan (276 KB)  

pdf Community Presentation 6-30-2020 (41.34 MB)

document Community Presentation 7-14-2020 (7.91 MB)

document City of Middletown Police and Community Panel Meeting 8-11-2020 (5.73 MB)

Get Connected for Emergency Alerts and Notifications!

Get Connected Today!!

The City of Middletown has partnered with Nixle, a public notification system that will provide our residents with real-time informational updates and emergency alerts.   Nixle 360 is purpose-built to provide secure and reliable communications, and its authenticated service can connect you to all of your city agencies such as the Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Public Works.  Notifications regarding public emergencies, road closures, severe weather alerts, and much more will be delivered to you via multiple platforms, including social media!  The system also provides an opportunity to submit confidential tips and requests for service. Sign-up is free and easy!  

SMS/Text Messages

Receive important updates and emergency alerts right on your mobile phone. To sign up, simply text Middletown to 888777, and you’ll automatically be added to our system!   

Email/ Web Messages

Get emails and web notifications to the address you select. Register now and learn more at www.nixle.com.

MPD needs your help!

The City of Middletown Police Department requests our community’s assistance:

The City of Middletown Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in helping us to address quality of life issues in an around our neighborhoods. We would like to remind everyone that if you see something, please say something. Our dedicated officers are actively working to address problems within our community, but you can assist them by calling the police department anytime you see illegal activities taking place. Some common complaints that we are looking to address are:

• Traffic and speeding violations
• Loud music from vehicles, residences, and businesses
• Narcotics activities
• ATVs riding on City streets
• Illegal dumpting, especially during clean-up weeks
• Underage alcohol consumption

Please remember that our department is here to serve you. For assistance, contact us directly at (845) 343-3151. Together, we can build a stronger, safer Middletown!                                                    

Renewing our commitment to you!

As part of our focus on building stronger relationships with our community, the Middletown Police Department is assigning officers to conduct foot patrols within the residential neighborhoods of the city.  As the warmer weather approaches, you should begin to notice uniformed police officers on foot patrol in your ward. Please do not be alarmed! In fact, if you see an officer on patrol, we encourage you to stop them and say hello. Feel free to discuss community issues and other concerns you might have, so that our department can be more effective in addressing your needs.  Chief Ewanciw believes strongly in building community trust, and he created this assignment as a means to provide residents with a means for direct communication with our police officers.  We look forward to meeting you!   

A History of Excellence

In 1772 John McGarrah and John Patterson were appointed as Constables in the Town of Wallkill. At that time Middletown was part of the Town of Wallkill, and Constable McGarrah and Patterson would have been responsible for the Middletown area as well. Middletown incorporated as a Village in 1848. A Village Charter was adopted in 1872 which divided the Village into four wards, set the number of Aldermen to eight, and established a Village Police Department. Village records from 1828 list Lewis Parsons as Police Constable, and Thomas Ogden as Pound Master. Parsons was responsible for law enforcement on a part-time basis, while Ogden collected stray animals and returned them to their owners for a fee.

The Middletown Police Department continued to expand and in 1878, with the President of the Village also acting as Police Chief, it consisted of nine policemen. The first set of rules and regulations was produced on April 26, 1884. They were handwritten by Village President James N. Pronk.

In 1888, Middletown became a City and, by charter, the police force was set at eight, although the Mayor could appoint special Constables. The Common Council was given the power to appoint not more than eight persons as Police Constables, who held the position for one year. No person could be appointed to the position who was not a citizen of the United States, who had been convicted of a crime, or who could not read and write in English. The annual salary was set a $700.

In 1912, the Police Department was located in the new City Hall on James Street. Prior to this time, it had been located on Center Street. When City Hall opened in 1912, the first person one encountered when entering the building on James Street was the Desk Sergeant. The Police Department remained in City Hall until March of 1972, when it moved into the present day location, which had been the U.S. Post Office.

In 1942, the Middletown Police Commission was established, in part to insulate the force from politics. The five member Commission acts in an advisory role. The Mayor acts as Chairman of the Commission, and the Chief of Police serves as its Secretary. No more than two persons from the same political party can be appointed to the Commission. The first Board of Police Commissioners, which went into effect on July 1, 1942, was made up of Mayor H. H. Smith, J. Lester Burnett, Frank A. Monaghan, John D. Botti, and Robert F. Cunningham.

A more complete history of the Middletown Police Department can be obtained from the publication "Middletown's Finest" available from:

Historical Society 
Middletown & the Wallkill Precinct 
25 East Ave. Middletown, NY 10940 (845) 342-0941