Prior to serving with Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, he served in the United States Marine Corps, (1959 to 1963) as a military police officer, gunner 81 mm mortars and held the rank of Sergeant E5. He is presently a member of the VFW, Glenside Post 676.

     Chief Vance acquired his Associate Degree from Montgomery County Community College in Police Science, his undergraduate degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from LaSalle University, and his Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Administration from West Chester University. He attended St. Joseph’s University Department of Business Administration management seminars. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Law Enforcement Hypnosis Institute, Los Angeles, California.

     He is certified by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Minor Judiciary Education Board for District Justice. The courts recognize Chief Vance as an expert law enforcement forensic hypnosis investigator assisting law enforcement agencies in solving difficult crimes of murder, rape, burglaries, and robberies. He is also a narcotic expert in the detection and identification of narcotic drugs, sellers, and users. He is also a certified instructor for Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission.

     Chief Vance is Chairman of the Executive Board of the Police Chiefs’ Association of Montgomery County, Advisor to the Board of the County and State Detectives’ Association of Pennsylvania, Chairman of Montgomery County Community College Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Executive Director of the International Forensic Hypnosis Association, President of the International Police Association, Region #13 Pennsylvania, member of Delaware Valley Professional Police Officials, Southeastern Police Chiefs’ Association, International Chiefs of Police Association, F.O.P. Lodge #14, Montgomery County, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and Montgomery County Black Law Enforcement Officers’ Association, and Pennsylvania Homicide Investigators’ Association.

     He is on the Board of Trustees for Abington Memorial Hospital, board member for Citizens and Police Together, Abington Township; board member of the Pennsylvania Commission for Crime and Delinquency Advisory Board, and board member of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. He is also a member of the Abington Township Town Watch.

Commendations received for murder cases by Chief Vance include:

Commendation from Borough of Collegeville, PA; Commonwealth v. Caleb Fairlie (Manderach Homicide) 1996

Montgomery County District Attorney’s Commendations for Successful Prosecution in Murder Cases and Distinguished Service as a Professional – 1994

Certificate of Award re United States v. Nathaniel Coleman, et al., (murder case) presented by Edward S. G. Dennis, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1986

Upper Merion Township Police Department Chief’s Commendation – Murder Case Solved; Commonwealth v. Thomas Bonner (Victim, August Bennick) 1986

Awards received by Chief Oscar P. Vance, Jr. include:

NAACP Trailblazing Law Enforcer, Willow Grove Youth Council - 2000

Abington Township Police Department, Crime Prevention Unit – Citizen Volunteer Services for Community Crime Prevention – 1998

Abington Memorial Hospital – Resolution from Board of Trustees and Abington Memorial Hospital Foundation – 1996

Certificate of Achievement from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of the Attorney General Thomas W. Corbett, Jr. – 1995

North Penn Chamber of Commerce Law Enforcement Man of the Year, Resolution of Senate of Pennsylvania for Man of the Year, Citation from Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Man of the Year Award, and Commendation for Man of the Year Award, Montgomery County Commissioners – 1995

Abington High School Hall of Fame Award for Government Action - 1993

International Police Association, Pennsylvania Region #13, Hall of Fame Award, 1993.

County and State Detectives’ Association of Pennsylvania Career Service Award – 1993

Montgomery County Bar Association Bar Service to the Public Award – 1993

Achievement Award from Moore-Triplett Post #451 American Legion – 1992

Thomas A. Raffa Memorial Award –International Hypnosis Hall of Fame – 1992

Central Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Law and Order Award, 1989.

Trailblazers’ Law Enforcement Award from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community Affairs – 1986

Mentor in Field of Criminology, Norristown Area High School – 1986

Malcolm X Award for outstanding leadership in the Black Community, presented by Citizens for Progress – 1983

Black History Month Appreciation Award – Naval Air Station, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania – February 1983

Optimist International, Lower Montco President’s Award for Community Service – 1982

Human Relations Committee of Montgomery County, and Young Republican of Montgomery County: Citizen of the Month, Republican of the Month