Former Police Chief Arthur E. Saul Jr. served the Delran police department and the community with “honor, dedication and leadership.”
The department, community, friends and family said their final goodbyes to the township resident last month. He passed away on July 4 at 78.
“His legacy of service, integrity and mentorship will never be forgotten,” the department stated in a Facebook post that garnered close to 500 reactions and 175 comments. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who had the privilege of working with him.”
A service for Saul was held at Sweeney Funeral Home in Greenwood on July 14 and he was buried at Brigadier General William C. Boyle Cemetery in Wrightstown.
Saul’s law-enforcement career spanned decades from 1969 to 2003, and began when the township police department was housed in the Delran Coffee Shop building. He retired as chief in 2003, according to his obituary.
Saul was described as an innovative community leader who pioneered the School Resource Officer (SRO) position in the Delran school district and was instrumental in developing new programs such as EMT cars, the township color guard and local SWAT teams.
As a detective, Saul worked undercover to infiltrate organized crime and was ultimately featured in a crime book called “Octopus.” In addition to police service, he continued to be invested in the betterment of his community as commissioner of the Delran fire department.
Saul proudly served the nation in Vietnam and played football and baseball at Riverside High, where he met his wife, Gloria. He was described as a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose three daughters were well aware of his watchful eye: They’d find him awake on the couch, regardless of the time they arrived home, and when a new boyfriend arrived, he would stand tall, clean his gun and make the rules clear, his family wrote in his obituary.
He enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids, building unique relationships with each –and spoiling them along the way. Saul knew how to find and match what each of them needed: He built a dollhouse; helped fix their cars; and spent time with them in the garage, as well as chatting about history.
For each of his grandkids and great-grandkids, Saul made a walking stick. In his spare time, if the TV was on, he could be found watching “Law and Order” or shouting at the Eagles and the Phillies. He was never happier than when he was behind the wheel of his plum 64 Fairlane, heading off for a car show.
Saul and Gloria were high-school sweethearts who were married for 58 years. He is survived by daughters Kelly (Joseph) Bader, Sherry (Bryan) Mullen and Buffy (Kevin) Mullen; eight grandchildren, Brittany (Chris) Boscoe, Brandon (Rachel) Bader, Sean Mullen, Shane Mullen, Lawrence (Nicholas) Hazel-Mullen, Abigail Mullen, Amy Mullen, and Ken Mullen; and great-grandchildren, Scotlyn and Emma Boscoe and Caroline Bader. Saul is survived by his sister, Ruth, and many close friends.
Darlene Davis is a sister-in-law to one of Saul’s daughters who posted a comment on his obituary.
“I did not get to meet this gentleman,” she noted, “but he touched my life in a surprising way. My oldest daughter was getting ready to have her first child, and for the baby shower, my sister-in-law and her sister flew to my home to help with the shower. They brought with them cocktail meatballs that were made by their father for our party.
“Isn’t that just the most amazing thing?” Davis marveled. “He had never met me, but went out of his way to provide, and he raised bright and beautiful souls who stepped in to help me in my first baby shower prep. I will never forget that kindness.”
