The Tilden Township Police Department first came into existence in the late 1960s. Three municipalities, Tilden Township, Centre Township and Centreport Borough, shared resources and often officers worked in all three municipalities. The department disbanded in 1991 and police coverage was provided by the Pennsylvania State Police and Centre Township Police.
December 2, 1997 - Tilden Township Police Department appointed Kenneth C. Borkey, Sr, as acting police chief. He was tasked with organizing the department's future.
January 5, 1998, the Tilden Township Police Department was officially reinstated with Acting Police Chief Kenneth C. Borkey, Sr being placed in charge of the department. Chief Borkey had been the police chief for Tilden until it was disbanded in 1991. He also served as police chief for the Centre Township Police Department, working there from 1974 through 1995.
August 10, 1998 the newly reactivated department became operational and started handling calls. The department at that time consisted of three members: Chief Borkey, who administered the department and did not respond to calls, Officer Douglass R Williams and Officer Timothy S Jones. All three were part-time positions.
2003 - The police department was officially moved from the old state police barracks on Mountain Road to a trailer near the township garage on Hex Highway. The move was required as the old state police barracks was torn down to make way for construction of businesses in that area.
By 2005, the department consisted of five part-time officers, including Chief Craig W. Wieder and Corporal Jesse D. Zimmerman.
January 2007, the township opened a brand new $1.8 million office building which included an entire second floor for the police department. The new police department has a squad room, interview room, two holding cells, showers and plenty of office space.
February 10, 2007, the township hired Dennis R Schwoyer as a part-time Corporal after Corporal Zimmerman left the department for other employment.
March 2007, Chief Wieder resigned and Cpl Schwoyer was placed in charge of the department.
By September 2007, the department had dwindled down to just Cpl. Schwoyer as other officers resigned for other employment. Officer William J. McEllroy III was hired September 8th as a part-time officer.
November 2007, discussions began with the township considering the idea of hiring full time officers. This issue had been discussed many times in past years.
January 7, 2008, Tilden Township created two full time police positions. The full time officers hired were Chief Dennis R Schwoyer, who was promoted from Corporal to Chief at the same meeting, and Officer William J. McEllroy III. This marked the first time the township had employed full time police officers.
September 11, 2010, Tilden Township hired Officer Peter J. Witman as a part-time officer specifically to concentrate on traffic enforcement duties.
June 28, 2011, Tilden Township promoted Officer Peter J. Witman from part-time to full-time status bring the total officer to three full-time positions.
July 1, 2011, Tilden Township appointed Officer William J. McEllroy III as Acting Chief of Police.
December 10, 2011, Tilden Township promoted Acting Chief of Police William J. McEllroy III to Chief of Police effective January 1, 2012.
August 22, 2015, Officer Dennis R. Schwoyer retired from the department.
October 12, 2016, Officer Jordan D. Heckman was hired as a full-time officer.
January 3rd, 2017, Officer Frank A. Cataldi was hired as a full-time officer.
June 14, 2017, Officer Peter J. Witman was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
May 2023, the department added bike patrol with Officer Jordan D. Heckman being the first bike patrol officer.
