The Bellmawr Police was created by ordinance in July of 1926. James Garrity, was made chief in 1930. Garrity's home served as police headquarters, and his family car as a police unit. In 1942 Ptl. Patrick Auletto was appointed and shortly after Ptl. Thomas Sears. In 1946 the department purchased their first unit. The department continued to grow in number of officers and technology throughout the years, Bellmawr was one of the first towns in the area to install radios in the patrol cars. In 1949 James retired from the department, and later passed in 1959.

In 1951 Edward Garrity was appointed Chief of Police (son of James). Under Chief Ed Garrity the department established their own crime laboratory, a junior police force for the young children, a K-9 unit, and officer friendly programs. Chief Ed Garrity was awarded the J. Edgar Hoover Award for Law Enforcement in New Jersey in 1969. After retiring in 1978, Garrity joined the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. Ed left a legacy in the department which will be very hard to top. Ed died in 2000, and is greatly missed.

Following Ed Garrity was Chief Edward Virtue, who was appointed in 1978. Chief Virtue formerly served as the department's detective sergeant. During Chief Ed Virtue's tenure the Borough of Bellmawr was affected by the crime of the 1980's which was brought on by an overall increase in the use of crack cocaine, nationwide. The department had to meet the needs of the community and strengthen their number of patrolmen, and reserve officers. The crime was kept to a minimal by highly visible patrols, and specialized training. Chief Virtue retired in 1985, and passed in 1992.

In 1985 Richard Dott was promoted from sergeant to chief. While Chief Dott served the department 9-1-1 was installed for the residents of Bellmawr, Mobile Data Computers (MDCs) were installed in patrol cars, which gave officers the capability to run vehicles DMV registration, check the vehicle or person for NCIC wants, and allowed silent communication between other officers and the Bellmawr dispatcher. Sgt. Walsh, Cpl. Wilhelm, and Ptl. J. Kenney discovered the largest methanphetamine laboratory in the county, which later resulted in 17 federal arrests. Many lives were saved by hard-working officers, and countless criminals arrested. Chief Dott retired in 1999.

In 2000, Capt. Walsh was promoted to Chief of Police. The K-9 Unit was reinstated in February of 2000. Ptl. Mike Ryan and his K-9 partner Eamonn graduated from the Philadelphia Police Academy for patrol dog tactics and narcotics detection. The department began a complex community policing program consisting of a community resource officer, police explorer post, and other related programs. The department is making numerous drug and warrant arrests in addition to other crimes.

In April 2002, 9-1-1 Emergency Calls and Police Dispatching was turned over to Camden County Communications in Lindenwold. The Police Department had handled it's own calls for service since the inception of the Police Department in 1926 and was one of the first departments to obtain radios for it's patrol vehicles.