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The Bensalem Police Department is the police department in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1951. The department has about 100 sworn officers and fifty support employees. It is one of the fifteen largest police departments in Pennsylvania.
| Bensalem Police Department | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | BPD |
| Motto | Protect with Honor, Serve with Pride |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1951 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Bensalem Township Municipal Building 2400 Byberry Rd |
| Police Officers | 100+ |
| Agency executive |
|
| Departments | List
|
| Website | |
| bensalempolice | |
Present-day Bensalem Police Department
editThe department's staff includes a deputy director and five sworn officers in the rank of lieutenant. Frederick Harran, Bensalem’s director of public safety believed the "number of officers is still low compared to other towns of similar geographic and population sizes".[1]
In December 2019, Bensalem Police hosted a public safety luncheon toy drive where toys are collected for needy families in the township.[2]
Divisions
editThe department includes a number of divisions; Patrol Division, with about 64 officers. Motor Patrol, with five officers who use motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. K-9 with five officers handling five dogs. Explorers, a branch of the Boy Scouts of America.
Twitter Presence
editIn April 2021 the Police Department posted an infamous tweet asking members of the public to submit photographs (via a website) of children on bicycles who were "causing traffic issues". The tweet and the policy received widespread condemnation.
History
editEstablished in 1951 when Bensalem Township had 11,500 residents, the Bensalem Police began with one car and two police officers. By the 1970s, the department had grown rapidly numbering about 29 officers. Over the years, the department has retired over 28 police dogs, and has grown to over 100 officers. It is ranked in the top 15 in Pennsylvania police departments.
| Officer | Date of death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| James Kenneth Armstrong | April 15, 1975 | Shot [3] |
| Robert N. Yezzi | August 12, 1980 | Struck by car [3] |
References
edit- ^ Quann, Peg (2019-12-06). "Bensalem approves budget with no tax increase". The Intelligencer. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ^ Quann, Peg (2019-12-10). "Bensalem to host public safety luncheon, toy drive". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ^ a b Officer Down Memorial Page, retrieved 15 January 2013